Olisa Ifeajika, executive assistant to the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta on public enlightenment (projects and policies), has said that the state’s whistle-blowing policy would deepen transparency, accountability, and value-for-money.

Mr Olisa stated this on Friday while speaking to journalists in Asaba.

He said that the initiative, introduced by the governor, empowered citizens to actively monitor public projects and report lapses directly to the government through dedicated communication channels.

According to him, the whistle-blowing mechanism was conceived as part of Mr Oborevwori’s vision to ensure that every naira spent on public infrastructure translates into tangible benefits for Deltans.

He said that the policy was a natural extension of the governor’s inspection culture, aimed at sustaining project quality and preventing waste.

“The essence of whistle-blowing is to make sure that citizens get value for the money the government spends on their behalf.

“These projects are sited in communities for the people. The governor cannot be everywhere, nor can commissioners or officials. So, the people themselves have become part of the inspection process.

“Since the policy’s introduction, the level of compliance among contractors has improved significantly, with many adopting stricter quality control measures due to increased community scrutiny.

“Even the contractors are now cautious. They don’t know who among the residents may report irregularities. Everyone wants to do better.
“It’s now a healthy competition to deliver quality projects,” he said.

He assured the people that the government had built strong confidentiality safeguards into the policy to protect whistle-blowers from any form of victimisation or witch-hunt.

“No one will be punished for offering developmental information. This is public ownership.

“The infrastructure belongs to all Deltans, not to the governor or the commissioner alone. Everyone is a stakeholder,” he said.

The governor’s aide further explained that reports received through the whistle-blowing channels “are immediately verified before any action is taken.”

He said that the system focused on practical and visible infrastructure, such as roads, schools, hospitals, and other public utilities, and also extended to the public service, where officers were encouraged to expose corruption or administrative misconduct.

He cited cases where engineers and supervising officials had been sanctioned for negligence or complicity in substandard work, stressing that the government was uncompromising about accountability.

“Some government officials have been reprimanded for looking the other way.

“The whole idea is to make sure that public funds yield durable infrastructure and that we don’t keep revisiting the same projects,” he said.

Mr Ifeajika added that the policy’s success had made it one of the most popular governance innovations in the state, with residents embracing it as part of their civic responsibility.

“Our style in Delta is different. We’ve turned governance into a collective enterprise. When people see that their input is respected, they become more interested in protecting public assets,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the whistle-blowing policy would outlive the current administration, noting that its effectiveness and acceptance across the state had made it a model for sustainable governance.

 “This is one good legacy that will endure. Future administrations will continue with it because it works.

“It is not about politics, it is about accountability, good governance, and ensuring that Delta remains on the path of progress,” he said.

He lauded the governor for pioneering a participatory governance model that places the people at the heart of development monitoring, ensuring transparency from project conception to completion.

(NAN)