Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that anyone who violates environmental laws or is caught destroying government property would be prosecuted.

He made it clear that it is a crime to dump refuse in drains and for construction companies to dump construction materials on walkways.

Governor Uduaghan who was addressing traders at Robson Plaza, Deco Road, Warri, said his pact with Deltans was to execute developmental projects and the people are to ensure the protection of such projects. He reiterated that it is wrong for people to dump refuse in drainages as such will lead to flooding.

According to him, protecting the environment and ensuring good habit must be imbibed by the people, disclosing that there will be town hall meetings and workshops to enlighten the people about what is expected of them so that they won’t run afoul of the law.

He disclosed that dualising Deco Road had become necessary as it will decongest Warri/Sapele road and expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work done on the road.

Dr. Uduaghan also inspected the progress of work done at Otirikpen Street where the residents of the street came out to express gratitude to Uduaghan for saving them from the menace of flood which the tarring of the street has checked.

Meanwhile, Uduaghan has advised the Delta State Bureau for State Pension to put in place a stronger regulatory and supervisory framework aimed at securing and ensuring compliance with the overall goal of empowering the workers on retirement.

He gave the advice yesterday during the 2014 Annual Lecture Series of the bureau organised in conjunction with Premium Limited, NLPC Pension Managers and OAK Pensions. Speaking at the event at Asaba, Uduaghan noted that the embezzlement of funds at the federal level has made glaring that the contributory pension scheme also has its unique challenges to contend with. He urged the bureau to make the contributory pension scheme a success and to inspire excellence and qualitative performance.

Represented by his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, the governor asserted that the theme of this year lecture, ‘Contributory Pension Scheme in the Delta State Public Service: Its Myths, Realities, the Prospects’, is most apt as it is selected to address the knowledge gap about the new pension scheme.

In a keynote address, the outgoing Delta State Head of Civil Service, Sir Okey Ofili, noted that the change to the Contributory Pension Scheme involving the joint contribution by both employee and employer with promulgation of the Pension Reform Act of 2004 was not done without good cause. He urged all to join hands together to make it work.

In his speech, Chairman, Bureau for State Pensions, Delta State, Dame Christiana Siakpere, said the organisation would continue to effectively relate with pensioners, workers in the state public service, organised labour, pension fund administrators, and other relevant stakeholders on the progress, challenges, activities relating to the administration and management of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan’s representative, Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, being welcomed by the outgoing Delta State Head of Service (HOS), Sir Okey Ofili, to the maiden Annual Lecture Series organised by the Bureau for State Pensions . . . yesterday in Asaba.