The Rivers State Government will today commence a 2-day retreat for its officials in Port Harcourt.
The Officials which include: special advisers, Commissioners, Heads of Parastatals and Agencies will take place at Intels Camp in Port Harcourt.
The aim of the 2-day retreat was aimed at strengthening the capacity State Government officials.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications in Rivers Austin Tam-George said that besides improving the Capacity Development of the officials, the 2-day retreat will be used to look at ways to diversify the economy of the State.
Austin Tam-George also said that the programme will afford the officials an opportunity to learn from their colleagues and professionals that will present papers at the retreat.
He stated that the harsh economic situation in the country has made it necessary for the State to take drastic steps to look into ways to ease the problems of the masses.
Also speaking ahead of the 2-day retreat, the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance Fred Kpakol said that the programme will be used to fashion out ways to boost the State Internal Revenue.
Fred Kpakol revealed that the Allocation from the federal government has dropped drastically to less than 5 billion per month and the sum is nothing to compare to the huge infrastructural gaps in Rivers State.
He stated that the State Government will used this retreat to enlighten officials to be creative in other to diversify the State Economy. He added that an 8-point agenda has been lined up for the retreat.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has asked former Governor of the state and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the reality that his political party lost the rerun elections and give way for the state government to concentrate on rebuilding the state.
Governor Wike stated that the responsibility of reviving the state after the immediate past administration failed to use the three trillion naira (N3trillion) that allocated to the state under its watch was enormous.
Declaring open a retreat on strengthening capacity, efficiency and service delivery for sustainable development for top government officials at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre on Thursday, Governor Wike pointed out that his administration had deployed resources and expertise to correct the failures of the Amaechi administration.
He said, “I call on the former Governor and leader of the APC in the State to accept the reality that the re-run elections has woefully been lost by his party and that Rivers people have, again, overwhelmingly re-affirm their confidence, trust and preference for the PDP.
The governor further claimed that all major projects that Amaechi initiated were either abandoned or not executed at all.
He said despite assuming office to meet a ruined state, his administration hit the ground running, initiating critical projects and programmes that have awaken the economy of the state to the benefit of the people.
Wike added, “I made it clear from our first day in office that we didn’t run for the office of Governor for the fun of it. We ran to restore hope to our people; provide first-class public infrastructure, tackle insecurity and make Rivers State a preferred destination for local and foreign entrepreneurs.”
