The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Special Projects has decried the poor state of the Direct Labour Agency, DLA, an intervention agency of the State, and promised to take necessary steps to revive it.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Oboro Preyor, gave the assurance in Asaba on Saturday during a maiden meeting of the committee with the interim management team of the agency.
Preyor who expressed concern over the ailing agency, said it should not be allowed to go into extinction.
The lawmaker explained that the DLA was the only intervention agency established by Delta State Law to handle road maintenance and construction of smaller roads in the State.
Preyor, who explained that the agency was established to function just like the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, noted that there was a time the agency was almost like a parallel body with the State ministry of works.
He, thereafter, directed officials of the agency to present to the committee the exact cost of reviving the asphalt plants and machineries that could be salvaged, especially the earth-moving equipment.
The chairman also directed the agency to furnish it with a detailed report of its strength and functions, saying there was the need to know whether the agency still has the manpower to handle projects.
The lawmaker, however, noted that the committee was not interested in auctioning any of the equipment, but to approach authorities, particularly the governor of the state, to restore the agency.
Preyor also warned officials of the agency against over bloated estimates on the repairs of the ailing facilities.
He expressed the hope that someone with a vision would be appointed as the next Director-General of the agency.
Mr Ferguson Onwo (PDP-Isoko South I), expressed optimism towards reviving the agency.
“It is cheaper to maintain roads than allow them to degenerate to the point that requires complete reconstruction,” he said.
Earlier, the Acting Director General of the agency, Mr Henry Emonena, said that the agency was a beehive of activities before the set backs that plunged it into its present state.
Emonena recalled a time when no fewer than 50 road projects were inaugurated under the agency and regretted the loss of government patronage on it.
He disclosed that all the asphalt plants, located in some parts of the state, were down due to incessant vandalism, adding that the present management was able to rehabilitate one recently.
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