The misfortunes of government-owned commercial ventures have been blamed on poor work ethics and unpatriotism of staff of the establishments.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge; SAN, OON, stated this when a delegation of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) Delta chapter, paid him a courtesy visit.
He said such organisations were usually established with good intentions, but the poor attitude of the workers, lack of commitment and dedication to duty would not allow them to survive and break even.
The Monarch, who was responding to the Union’s request for his intervention in restoring the lost glory of the state-owned Delta Line, noted that failure to take ownership of the establishment and give it their best had led the workers seeing the company as not their fathers’ business.
His Majesty said similar privately-owned transport companies were growing and breaking even because they must pay their staff and remain in business, while the story was different in Delta Line where the government paid the workers.
Nna Agu maintained that until the narrative changed, government would have no business running any business as it would end up being an exercise in futility.
He, however, promised to intervene in other areas that would promote effective transportation systems in the state, stressing that the issue of Delta Line could hardly be revisited by government.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Comrade Lawrence Otueroro, who is also the State Chairman of AUPCTRE; acknowledged the good work His Majesty had been doing since ascending the throne, especially the peace being enjoyed by residents of Asaba.
Comrade Otueroro drew the attention of the Asagba to the sorry condition of the state-owned transport outfit “Delta Line”, which competed strongly with privately-owned ones in the past, urging him to assist in restoring the lost glory of the company.