The Delta government says President Bola Tinubu’s reforms are gradually shaping and stabilising Nigeria’s economy for growth and development.

The state commissioner for works (Rural roads) and public information, Charles Aniagwu, stated this at a news conference in Asaba on Friday.

He said that some persons were beginning to take advantage of the reality of the moment to make Nigerians feel that there was no hope, adding that with the current reforms, the transformation of the country had just begun.

He noted that Mr Tinubu’s reforms had empowered state governments to deliver on their programmes, adding that the federal government had addressed the availability of petroleum products and that the price reflected current realities.

He said that while the macroeconomy had been addressed, the challenge was how to address the microeconomy and affordability to ensure that the people had the purchasing power to buy what they needed.

“We are not denying the reality of the present hardship but we are addressing it in Delta by increasing the purchasing power of the people.”

He said that if other states could emulate Delta by increasing their purchasing power, the challenge of affordability would have been generally addressed.

“That is exactly what the President meant when he called on the states to reach out to the people at the grassroots.”

He said there was a need to disabuse the minds of people from the opposition who alleged that empowering people at the grassroots was for vote buying.

Mr Aniagwu said the Delta government had deployed about N5 billion to empower people at the grassroots in order to increase their purchasing power.

“This direct intervention had become necessary to cushion the direct impact of the economy on the people, while government invested on roads, schools infrastructure and others and the impact may be slow,” he said.

Mr Aniagwu said the essence of increasing their purchasing power was to work in line with the federal government to stabilise the economy.

“We are building bridges, paying salaries, and now, the 13th months salary that was never the case, now we ensure that councillors are empowering 200 of their constituents to the tune of N50,000 per person. This was not the case before now.

“We award contracts, mobilise contractors to the tune of 40 per cent, the Tinubu administration made all these possible.

“Before, 2023, there was no serious effort about the access road to the second Niger Bridge. Today, interchange at Issele-Azagba is almost ready.

“Our children in the higher institutions, including the four universities in Delta, particularly those, who belong to the poorest of poor have been able to access the NELFUND loan with no interest rates.

“Today, the first Niger Bridge is closed to maintenance by the President to ensure the people travel safely across the Niger. The ongoing concrete pavement along Asaba-Benin Expressway are some of the interventions by the federal government.

“But I tell you that the reality of the moment has an underlining factor that is transforming the future; people do not have enough money to buy what they need but government is intentional about it to deal with the situation,” Mr Aniagwu said.

He said that the Academic Staff Union of Universities is no longer going on strike remained a reality of the moment.

“That our children in schools will graduate in record time is also the reality of the moment.

“That we drive into the petrol stations to buy fuel without queueing is also the reality of the moment, not just the pump price of petrol.

“After all, during black market days, the products were not there and we were even paying more than what the price is today.

“To address the challenge of affordability, Delta government is improving the people’s purchasing power, that is what we are doing with the councillors now empowering their constituents, these were not possible before President Tinubu’s administration,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the approved 13th-month salary for public servants would cost the government about N16 billion, adding that it was a deliberate decision of the government to improve workers’ purchasing power.

According to him, the intervention efforts of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration span across many sectors.

“The initiative is part of the state government’s measures to cushion the effects of the current macroeconomic reforms and improve the welfare of civil servants.

‘’Once the governor is back from his short working leave, that bill will be assented to, and it will become a law in Delta that civil servants will be paid 13th month salary.

‘’Let me emphasise that this 13th month salary is not just the basics, it is the same thing that you earn in December that you will also earn on the 13th month,’ he said.

According to him, the payment would enable workers to enjoy the yuletide and make provisions for school fees, rent and other expenses in January.

Mr Aniagwu added that, while creating a conducive environment for investors, the government recognised the need to strengthen the purchasing power of Delta people and enable residents to achieve better living standards.

The passage of the bill by the House of Assembly on September 15 placed Delta as the first state to give legislative backing to the 13th-month salary for public servants.

(NAN)