HON. DAIYABU GARGA DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDE

Hon. Daiyabu Garga

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Daiyabu Garga, has reviewed and released the scorecard of his ministry in Governor Simon Bako Lalong's one year in office.

The Commissioner, who took a stock of the Ministry, scored it high and appealed to the Plateau people to understand the challenges facing the state as the current administration met virtually an empty treasury at its inception, but was able to still forge ahead to provide good governance for its citizens.

Rolling out the achievements, Garga said his ministry during the period under review embarked on the following projects in its efforts to implement the State Government's policy thrust:

Promotion of deserving officers of both junior and senior management was processed and released.

ü  Training workshops and seminars were organized for local government council chairmen and members to keep them abreast of management skills and government policies and programmes.

ü  The ministry undertook the renovation of its secretariat to create conducive working environment for the staff at a total cost of N7,945,000.

ü  Shendam Zonal Office was also renovated at the cost of N1,800,000.

ü  Procurement of office working materials was executed to facilitate and guide implementation of government policies and programmes in line with the change mantra.

ü  The routine inspection of local government council treasury books of accounts were promptly checked and inspected in line with government policy.

ü  In line with the present government's zero tolerance to mismanagement, the ministry keyed into the Single Treasury Account (TSA) policies of both the Federal and State governments respectively.

ü  During the period under review, the ministry processed and approved for the filling of the following  vacant stools.

1.      District Head of Kombon,

2.      District Head of Piapong

3.      District Head of Mafara

4.      District Head of Doemark

5.      District Head of Vwang,

6.      District Head of Somji

7.      District Head of Tariya,

8.      District Head of Hardon-Dinya

9.      District Head of Garkawa and

The following village Heads

1.      Village Head of Bashar

2.      Village Head of Gwande

3.      Village Head of Kwi and Village Head of Rim.

While efforts are being put in place to fill the vacant stools of the Long Goemai of Shendam and Ngolong Ngas of Pankshin/Kanke Joint Traditional Council as a result of the demise of the paramount rulers recently.

ü  The ministry in its efforts to increase the internally generated revenue base of the LGCS in the light of the dwindling fall in the subvention, has embarked on aggressive IGR through the provision of Customized Revenue Receipts and also reviewed the rates upward. This was done centrally to avert fraudsters and leakage, and diversion of revenue to the wrong hands.

ü  Furthermore, the Ministry also intensified inspection/scrutiny of Local Government Books of Account to ensure accountability and transparency in line with government's policies of zero tolerance to corruption.

ü  Monitoring and inspection of projects by the Local Government Councils to ensure strict compliance to laid down procedures and specifications.

ü  Training programme in conjunction with GIZ and Jos Business School was conducted for Revenue Officers/Treasurers to enhance their skill in revenue identification and collection procedures to boost internally generated revenue base of the councils.

ü  Massive public enlightenment and immunization were conducted and also the National Programme on Immunization was carried out.

ü  Drugs/immunization drugs were purchased and distributed to the Local Government Councils for onward distribution.

ü  Procurement and distribution of Life-Saving Drugs for the provision of post partum hemorrhage and umbilical sepsis.

ü  Trained 2,875 volunteers in the distribution of the drugs in the 17 Local Government Areas.

ü  Procured drugs centrally for Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week and distributed to the 17 Local Government Areas.

ü  The ministry carried out monitoring and supervision of immunization activities (SIA) and other campaign exercises in the Local Government Areas.

ü  The Department of Primary Health Care of the Ministry established a Laboratory Unit in her effort to provide essential PHC services as well as generate revenue for the ministry and by extension to the state at large.

ü  During the period under review, the ministry collated and compiled data on chieftaincy districts and village areas in the State with the view of placing them in the State website.

ü  The ministry conducted training workshops and seminars in collaboration with CBN and NBs Fiscal Surveys.

Commissioner Garga added that the progress and achievements were made possible through the Ministry's Action Plan for the year.  However, he added, there are teething problems that continue to constitute constraints in the course of action, among which are:

i.        Inadequate funds;

ii.      Inadequate staff and personnel;

iii.    Insufficient vehicles to facilitate prompt supervision and monitoring of local government activities; and

iv.    Inadequate funds as a result of fall in price of oil in the international market with attending fall in subvention.

The commissioner concluded by saying the period under review was eventful and that his ministry is doing all within its limited resources to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people of Plateau State in line with the Change Mantra of the present administration.