Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the appointment of Mr. Vincent Okunbor as the new Accountant-General of Delta State.
The appointment took effect from June 5, 2025, as communicated in an official letter signed by the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininimi Oseji.
Mr. Okunbor, who previously served as Director of Accounts in the Ministry of Finance, is now tasked with leading the state’s treasury and financial accountability framework at a time of increasing scrutiny over subnational fiscal management.
According to the appointment letter, Okunbor’s new role comes with the full salary and entitlements of a Permanent Secretary, as outlined in Circular No. HOS.41/I/T/198 of 16th April, 2014.
The letter emphasizes the expectation that this promotion will “further motivate” him to carry out his responsibilities with “utmost dedication” and in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Law and other applicable regulations.
The move has been greeted with mixed reactions in civil service and political circles.
The letter reads: “I am pleased to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, for your appointment as Accountant-General of Delta State, with effect from 5th June, 2025.
“This appointment entitles you to the salary and allowances applicable to Permanent Secretaries, as stipulated in Circular No. HOS.41/I/T/198 of 16th April, 2014.
“It is expected that this elevation will further motivate you to discharge your responsibilities with utmost dedication, in alignment with the Fiscal Responsibility Law and other applicable regulations.
“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved appointment”.
While some hail the appointment as a well-earned elevation for a seasoned technocrat, others view it within the broader context of the governor’s efforts to tighten control over the state’s financial apparatus amid growing calls for transparency and reform.
The appointment also reflects Governor Oborevwori’s ongoing restructuring of the state’s administrative machinery as he settles into the second half of his tenure, focusing on efficiency and internal discipline.
No public comments have yet been made by Mr. Okunbor, but the Head of Service, Dr. Oseji, in her letter, extended “heartfelt congratulations” and expressed confidence in his ability to meet the demands of the office.
Observers will be watching closely to see how the new Accountant-General navigates the state’s complex financial landscape, manages rising fiscal expectations, and enforces compliance in line with the state’s budgetary priorities.
Meanwhile, it would be recall that The Story had reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), purportedly arrested Mr. Okunbor while he was the Acting Accountant General of the State and his Deputy by the Port Harcourt office of the anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of a staggering N1.3 trillion during the tenure of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
