BENIN CITY – The Social Service Volunteer Scheme initiated by the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, London, Rev. Emmanuel Obasohan is in line with the polices and programmes of the administration of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor in Edo State.

The Chief of Staff, Edo State Government, Hon. Isaiah Osifo made the remark at a dinner organised by Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor local government areas in the state in honour of the mayor on Sunday evening in Benin City.

Hon. Osifo, who lauded the social workers programme, said the state government had actually intervened and revamped all sectors of the economy including education and health, which were indicators that the Prof. Osunbor-led administration was responsive and responsible to the needs of the people thereby providing a guarantee for peace and security in the state.

He explained that the state government had ensure free and compulsory universal basic education, renovated and equipped schools and hospitals as well as disbursed bursary awards, adding that the initiative would be extended to other states in the Niger delta region just as he observe that the exercise enhanced physical fitness.

Prof. Osunbor promised to integrate the effort into the policy of his administration in order to enhance its effective service delivery among the social workers that would be recruited into the social workers volunteer scheme in the state and commended the chairman of Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area for their support to the programme.

Earlier, the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Rev. Emmanuel Obasohan, who was accompanied by his wife, commended the governor for embarking on the social service volunteer workers initiative and revealed that the marathon race would be done annually, pointing out that next year the race would be on a bigger scale.

Responding on behalf of the three councils, the chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Hon. Mike Ehima thanked the mayor for initiating the programme and commended the state government for accepting to integrate the social workers scheme into its policies and programmes.

The Chief of Staff, Mayor of Barking and Dagenham as well as the council chairmen, the senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Intergovernmental Relations and Protocol, Hon. Aiye Osakue and the Permanent Secretary, Central Administration, Governor’s Office, Mrs. Idahosa later held a meeting on how to strengthen the social service volunteer workers programme.