Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has promised to reduce the cost of governance not by sacking workers but by realigning the current workforce.
Governor Obaseki said his team would work with the Permanent Secretaries in the next six weeks with a view to understanding the processes and redefining the system to make it more efficient.
He spoke while swearing-in the new Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.
Obaseki said the total monthly revenue including Internally Generated Revenue of the state has dwindled to about N4bn unlike when it stood at about N7bn six years ago.
He reminded the newly appointees and Permanent Secretaries that his purpose in governance is to serve the people because expectations from the people are high.
Obaseki assured that his administration would deliver on its promises but it began from the way he organise government right from the quality of people who head government.
He disclosed that he started working with Ogie nine years ago when he (Ogie) was asked to join the team that drew the blueprint for Oshiomhole’s administration?
His words, “Our project is God’s project. God has given us strength. God has given us the power. Ogie and I started this project nine years today. Both of us have been at the integral part of the Edo project. I feel secure that he is somebody who understands what this is all about.
“It requires a lot of hardwork, commitment and dedication to our people. I have no doubt that the task is daunting. We do not have the kind of resources we had six years ago. Everywhere we travelled to during the campaigns; people had demand for better schools, healthcare system and new lease of life.
“We cannot afford to make excuses. Even though we have these challenges, it is incumbent on us that we must deliver and it starts from the way we organise government right from the quality of people who heads government.
“We will tackle the challenges ahead of us. We are cognizant of what is going on around. Government has to work for politics to succeed. Initially, We will emphasize more governance.
“Let us put in place a governance structure so that our political structure can survive and endure. For the next six weeks we are going to work with the Permanent to understand the structures of government so that we can make governance much more efficient.
“We cannot afford with the high cost of governance we run today. The money is not there. We can restructure how we work. We can get more from the people we already have.”
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