By Our Reporter
The Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Sheriff Oborevwori, has directed the rebranding and stepping up operations of Delta State Traffic Management Authority DESTMA.
This was made known by the Director General of DESTMA, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Okiemute, when the Board of the agency paid a courtesy visit to the State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, led by Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
Okiemute said the agency’s new recruitment policy will prioritize University and Polytechnic graduates to constitute 70% of her workforce, while 30% for young School Certificate Holders, emphasizing the need for quality service delivery through result oriented traffic management strategies.
“We are turning around the fortune of DESTMA. What we met on ground is nothing to write home about. This board is determined to do things differently. Staff welfare and training is in the front burner. There is no room for mediocrity, going forward.
“The State Bureau for Orientation and Communications has become a super agency under the leadership of Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe. We want to partner with you in our rebranding plan. You have great ideas that would help convey our messages to the target audiences.
” We can’t do this alone, we need to partner your Bureau and other sister agencies to achieve desired goals.
“In the near future we shall decorate Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe as a ‘Mayor’ of DESTMA in recognition of your super media management skills, leadership qualities and dedication to duty. You are a role model to so many youths in the state and beyond.
“The State Orientation and Communications Bureau is unarguably an active agency for Sensitization campaigns, effective dissemination of government policies, programmes and achievements of this administration ,” Okiemute said.
Also, the Chairman of DESTMA, High Chief Peter Idion, said their visit was to solicit partnership with the Stat Bureau for Orientation and Communications under the leadership of Dr Oghenesivbe.
He disclosed that the new board of DESTMA is poised to expanding the Operations of the Agency from the present 7 LGAs to 25, work with the office of the State Attorney-General to forward a Bill to the State House of Assembly for the amendment of the Law establishing the state traffic management agency.
In his response, Director General, Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, commended the new board of DESTMA for plans in place to expand and upscale her operations from seven local governments as enshrined in the law establishing it.
Adding that the ideal thing is for the agency to effectively cover the 25 local government areas as presently canvassed by the new board in line with the realistic reforms agenda of governor Oborevwori.
Oghenesivbe, urged the agency to be holistic in the rebranding plan and process, to include upscaling professionalism, staff discipline and adequate supervision, so as to bring about the desired result envisaged by the governor and the government in line with the ongoing implementation of the MORE agenda.
He described the board Chairman and Director General, Chief Idion and Hon Okiemute, as men of impeccable character and proven dignity.
The Bureau Chief assured DESTMA board and management of the Bureau’s result oriented partnership in the area of sensitization campaigns through multifaceted channels of communication and platforms, as well as planning and implementation of joint awareness creation campaigns across the three senatorial districts and motor parks, on the need for commercial drivers and those with right of way to obey traffic rules and abstain from drug abuse and use of Illicit Drugs.
“I thank the Chairman and management staff of DESTMA for this visit. Your rebranding plan is a welcome development. It should be all encompassing, and as a Bureau we are ready to partner with you, especially in the area of creating awareness for your multifaceted activities through state wide Sensitization campaigns,” Oghenesivbe assured.
