The Delta government says sustainable job creation must be driven primarily by the private sector rather than the public service.

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Sonny Ekedayen, stated this while speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Asaba, the state capital.

Mr Ekedayen said the government could not continue to function as the main employer, noting that fiscal realities limit the expansion of the state’s public workforce.

He explained that although the state government remains one of the largest employers, increasing the wage bill without corresponding productivity would place undue pressure on public finances.

The commissioner stressed that the government’s responsibility is to create an enabling environment that allows businesses to grow and absorb the expanding labour force.

According to him, thousands of graduates enter the labour market annually, a demand that cannot be met solely by the public sector.

Mr Ekedayen noted that the government was not structured to operate like a business, adding that political cycles often disrupt commercial continuity.

He said businesses require discipline, predictability, and long-term planning conditions that are more sustainable within the private sector.

The commissioner cited the expansion of commercial activities in Asaba as evidence that the state’s economic reforms were beginning to yield positive results.

He cited increasing investments in hospitality, retail, and property development as signs of growing investor confidence.

Mr Ekedayen added that improvements in road infrastructure, enhanced security, and ongoing urban renewal projects have made Delta more attractive to investors and entrepreneurs.

He also disclosed that the Delta Special Economic Zone has recorded measurable growth following deliberate government intervention.

According to him, the administration cleared inherited administrative bottlenecks, including outstanding licensing and renewal fees, to restore regulatory compliance within the zone.

He said the move reassured both existing and prospective investors of the government’s commitment to improving the investment climate.

“Two years ago, fewer than three companies operated in the zone, but today we have 11 active firms,” he said.

The commissioner noted that several new expressions of interest were currently being processed as infrastructure within the economic zone continues to improve.

Mr Ekedayen said approvals had been granted for critical internal works to expand the zone’s operational capacity.

He also said the state had secured inclusion in a federal agro-processing programme supported by the African Development Bank.

According to him, the initiative is designed to establish agro-industrial clusters that integrate farming, processing, and export activities.

Mr Ekedayen said the focus would be on areas such as cassava processing, poultry production, animal feed manufacturing, and other value-added agricultural products.

He described the initiative as a major step toward industrialising agriculture, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening food security.

Mr Ekedayen added that the combined impact of the special economic zone and the agro-processing programme is expected to create significant employment opportunities across several value chains in the state.

(NAN)