By Austin Ogwuda
I read a story reported by Gallant Reporters where the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health led by Chief Ferguson Onwo was calling on the Delta State Ministry of Health and parastatals under it came to raise the bar in service delivery.
Onwo particularly urged the managers of the State health sector not to compromise global best practices on healthcare issues, especially in the areas of infrastructure, equipment and attitude to work, adding that they should ensure that the MORE agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was achieved through their budget implementation in the 2024 fiscal year.
After reading the story, two questions readily came to my mind.
Was the Committee chairman admonishing for the sake of it and merely playing to the gallery when he said this during Budget defence?
When will State Agencies and parastatals be properly equiped to produce the needed results compared to global practices Onwo is referring to?
Was it not in this country that it came to light that Aso Rock Clinic which is primarily expected to offer medical treatment to the President, his family and occupants lacked basic First Aid needs.
Why? Because those the supposed first class facility is meant for are not even interested going there. They prefer to fly abroad to treat common tooth ache, leg pain.
I am pained when we pretend and playing the Ostrich. Otherwise, why should the Delta State owned The Pointer Newspaper till today, cannot boast of its own press but printed outside in a privately owned press.
Tomorrow, government expects it to perform magic and rake in money from advertisements, the live-wire of any Media house be it print or electronic.
While the State House of Assembly is rounding up to get the 2024 Budget passed, a good consideration should be paid to ensuring that the State owned Parastatals are well funded to perform optimally.
Now the crux of the matter is, when properly funded can productivity be measured?
In the private sector including one of the leading newspaper houses where The Pointer is printed today there is zero tolerance for ‘I don’t care attitude ‘ usually exhibited by many workers under government payroll.
Finally, I am not only talking about The Pointer but all the State owned media – Delta Broadcasting Service DBS inclusive.
Over the years right from Chief James Ibori era till now, whenever there’s going to be a big event like ground breaking ceremony of Flyovers, State burials, the knack to engage private TV stations resonates.
Dear Mr. Governor, the new Sheriff in the saddle, posterity would record you kindly if you can brake the jinx.
Ensure your media houses get maximum budgetary allocations and are released as at when due.
Let your former colleagues in the House be realistic and do the needful by appropriating appropriately the needed funds to them and in return demand for performance and throw away layabouts not ready to key into the expected upgrade.
Wishing you good luck, Sir!