MINISTRY
OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
A
VISION FOR CHANGE
Being highlights of activities so far
undertaken in pursuit of the Rescue Agenda. Excerpted from the monthly press
briefing of the Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communication, they
signpost the development efforts of the APC-led administration in the state.
Especially, they hint at the states enormous potential which is being realized
through the instrumentality of the Five-Pillar Policy Thrust.
OFFICE
OF THE HEAD OF SERVICE
In line with its mandate, the Office of the
Head of Civil Service (OHCS) ensures effective and efficient implementation of
government policies and programmes. At the inception of the APC-led
administration in the state, a number of ministries were restructured to help
actualize the vision which finds expression in the Five-Pillar Policy Thrust.
The Ministry of Science and Technology was merged with the Ministry of
Education (Higher Education) to become Ministry of Higher Education, Science
and Technology; Ministry of Mineral Development, merged with Ministry of
Environment to become Ministry of Environment and Mineral Development; Ministry
of Transport, merged with Ministry of Works to become Ministry of Works and
Transport; and Ministry of Sports Development, merged with Ministry of Youth to
become Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
In conjunction with the Civil Service
Commission and the Teachers Service Commission, OHCS facilitated the promotion
of over 7000 senior staff who had been stagnated for years due to the embargo
placed by the last administration. Furthermore, 66 civil servants sat for the
civil service examination to qualify them for promotion, while in-service
training/study leave was granted to 157 officers for the 2015/2016 academic
year. In the same vein, 63 civil servants have registered for the Professional
Officers Induction Course. It is pertinent to note that the number declined due
to the last administrations embargo on employment.
In line with governments desire to enroll civil servants for the defined
Contributory Pension Scheme, collection and collation of relevant data for the
process to has commenced. As it is, 50 MDAs have submitted their data which
have been sent to the consultant, Rimafin Consult for actuarial valuation.
The atmosphere for industrial peace has also been created by the administration
by its worker-friendly disposition. It would be recalled that the
administration inherited a disenchanted work force owing to non-payment of
salaries for upwards of eight months. As it stands, salary and pension arrears
have been cleared while 515 new pensioners who have been without pension for
years have been added to the pension list.
Worthy of note also is that the 35th edition of the Federation of the Public
Service Games was hosted by Plateau State from November 23rd to December 3rd,
2016. This, no doubt, is attributable to the general atmosphere of peace,
harmony and tranquility created by the leader of the rescue team, Rt. Hon.
Simon Lalong.
FINANCE
One of the highpoints of the administration’s efforts to turn around the
fortunes of the state were the measures taken to improve revenue generation and
block leakages in financial operations. In this light, the administration
ensured the full implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting
Standard (IPSAS); the governor has consequently approved the production of
IPSAS Cash Basis Accounting User Manual Volume I & II.
Also undertaken at the inception of the administration was the verification,
valuation and documentation of fixed and moveable assets of ministries and
agencies in the state. This project is necessary for the migration from cash
basis to Accrual Basis of IPSAS.
A process for the recovery of unapplied
interest and excess charges on current accounts maintained by Plateau State
Government banks is on. Consequently, demand notice has been served on the
affected commercial banks and motion filed in court towards the recovery.
An accounting firm has been engaged for a
forensic audit and reconciliation of all Plateau State Government investments
in equities in the capital market.
A BVN matching service for state employees
and pensioners was carried out. At the end of the exercise, 579 persons were
taken off the salary payroll for various reasons, saving N68,554,694.27 monthly
for the state. Additionally, 101 persons out of this number are to make a
combined refund of N76,763,551.15 for staying in service beyond their terminal
dates.
Efforts are being made towards full
reconciliation of all debts of the state. This has led to the restructuring of
previous administrations debt at a lower interest rate. As at September 2016,
the total debt portfolio was N110,812,789,286.79 out of which
N16,561,983,097.20 has been paid.
A total of N14.16 billion was approved as
budget facility for the state. The state started drawing the facility from June
2016. The total collection to date is N7.47 billion with an outstanding of
N6.69 billion to be accessed.
Government has kept faith with payment of salaries to civil servants and
pensioners, and has also paid arrears of promotion, annual increments,
etc.
JUSTICE
The ministry received 82 criminal cases from different justice sectors of which
legal advice has been proffered. In addition, 75 criminal cases were filed
within the period.
Furthermore, 150 cases have been disposed
of and 40 convictions obtained.
In the area of civil litigation, 38 cases
have been disposed of and 778 are pending in various courts.
Under Legal Drafting, 6 Executive bills were drafted and 4 of these bills have
been passed into law; two (2) of the bills are still pending before the Plateau
State House of Assembly. So also, 20 contracts have been drafted while 25 MoUs
have been vetted.
Meanwhile, under Citizens Right and Law
Reform, 70 complaints and petitions were received; 53 of them are pending and
being handled. Furthermore, the ministry has embarked on the revision of 15
laws of various MDAs both at the State and Local Government levels. Some of
these are before the State Executive Council while others are receiving
legislative attention in the House of Assembly.
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS
This ministry continues to keep tabs on the
affairs of the local governments in a manner that ensures effective
administration of the councils.
Under this dispensation, a number of
measures have been taken, leading to increased revenue generation. Some of
these measures are: diversification of the local government revenue base,
introduction of customized revenue receipts, review of rates, among
others.
Agricultural activities in the Local
Government Areas are also being encouraged and supported by the present
administration. For instance, counterpart funds have been paid to Fadama III in
respect of LGAs which have competitive advantage in Irish potato farming. This
is expected to boost the production of this crop in the state.
The administration also sees the traditional institution as a key part of the
peace process in the state. It is for this, among other reasons that the
APC-led government has ensured that vacant stools are filled while efforts are
also being made to fill those still vacant.
COMMERCE
AND INDUSTRY
The administration has since inception
undertaken to resuscitate such ventures as the burnt Jos Main Market, the Jos
International Breweries (JIB) Plc, the Kabong Market, Highland Bottling Company
and the Inland Container Depot. Accordingly, partnerships/agreements have been
entered into with various firms to achieve this goal.
In the same vein, contractors have visited
the Pioneer Milling Company at Zalaki to commence a plant audit of the
facility. A project delivery team has been constituted for the monitoring and
evaluation of the work being done.
Furthermore, Fertilizer Blending Plants at Bokkos and Foron are receiving
governments attention. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have now been
signed with two different companies for the revamping of the plant at Bokkos
and for the establishment of the one sited at Foron.
AGRICULTURE
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Government procured and distributed 777
trucks (over 400,000 bags) of fertilizer to farmers at subsidized rate during
the 2016 cropping season.
Government also purchased and distributed
improved seedlings of tomatoes and Irish potatoes to farmers at subsidized
rates.
So also, the state government signed an MoU with a company, Greenlands
Integrated Agribusiness Limited for the setting-up of the following: storage
facilities, fruits and vegetable storage, milk packaging plant and dairy/pig,
swine genetic centre, poultry processing plant, and Integrated (wind and solar
power) Generation Plant.
Within this period too, government also signed an MoU with SOLBEC Ltd. for the
resuscitation of the long abandoned Panyam Fish Farm.
WATER
RESOURCES AND ENERGY
Water treatment plants have been
resuscitated in Shendam, Pankshin and Bokkos even as several kilometers of old
water pipelines are being replaced/repaired within the Jos/Bukuru metropolis.
340 boreholes are being drilled in Riyom
and Shendam. This is being supported by the EU-UNICEF Project through the
Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
Power supply restored to communities such
as Miango, Datti-Zawan, Kung-Bwana, Du, Karon-Foron which have experienced
power failure for several years.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed
with William Duncan Hydroelectric for 32 MW hydro power project in Kwall, Bassa
LGA.
HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
One of the goals of this administration is
to complete projects inherited from the last administration. Consequently, on
assumption of office, the administration took over the remodeling of the
Plateau State Governors Lodge at Asokoro, Abuja which has now been completed,
furnished and occupied.
Furthermore, government has acquired five hectares of land at Lamingo for the
new national housing project. Compensation has been paid and title issued to
the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing preparatory to the
commencement of the project.
22,500 housing units are to be constructed
at nine sites under the Public Private Sector participation scheme. Developers
have been approved for the purpose.
An MoU has also been signed for another
housing programme in the state. Under this programme, 7500 housing units are to
be built across the three senatorial zones with 4500 in the northern zone and
1500 each in the central and southern zones.
Several township roads within the capital
city have been earmarked for rehabilitation and the process for the award of
contract is already in progress.
WOMEN
AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The present administration is especially
supportive of activities that, among others, promote the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
In this regard, it has supported the many
efforts designed to protect the child, such as the formation of the Technical
Working Group (TWG) on violence against children.
Furthermore, the ministry developed the
State specific Priority Actions across sectors relevant to child protection,
following which the final document was launched by the state governor in
September 2016.
Training for MDAs, CSOs, CPN, FBOs and other stakeholders has also been
undertaken in collaboration with UNICEF. This is aimed at equipping
stakeholders with the skill to handle cases of violence against children in the
state.
Under its skills development program, the
ministry trained nineteen people in knitting, sewing, cosmetology, catering and
bead making at the end of which they received some support for take-off. And,
in collaboration with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation, 100 women and youth also
underwent training in catering, fabric, dyeing, poultry and cosmetics.
A partnership was also entered into with
the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to train 60 women/youths in garment making
and catering.
The ministry, in collaboration with the
Plateau Aids Control Agency, assisted by the World Bank enrolled 50 Persons
Living With HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children and care-givers for training
in the following as a form of empowerment: tailoring, knitting, shoe-making,
catering, hair dressing and computer application. The beneficiaries were
selected across the 17 local government areas.
WORKS
AND TRANSPORT
At inception, this administration deployed
the lean finances at its disposal for the patching and rehabilitation of some
major roads and streets in the Jos-Bukuru metropolis. This was undertaken by
the Plateau State Roads Maintenance Agency in the total sum of N525,675,690.30.
Since then, the following new road
contracts have been awarded, all totaling N3,980,969,215.78 billion: Rantya
road network; Wildlife Park-Rafiki Junction and rehabilitation of Miango
junction; Kalong bridge and road approaches; Plateau State University, Bokkos;
Dokan Tofa-Dokan Kasuwa; and Total bridge in Shendam.
Furthermore, contract for 16 more road projects have been advertised. They are:
Maraban Demshin-Shimankar road with spur to Shargan-Angwan Rina-Angwan Dadi
Kalong-Nyak road; Dokan Tofa-Baap Kurgwi road with spurs to Lardan, Bwal, Kwoor
and Tim; Shinkwan-Tunkus (Shendam bye pass) road; Wase-Kadarko-Dadinkowa road;
Dengi-Bashar-Gajin Bashar road; Dengi-Kwalmiya Dugub-Gagdi road;
Dawaki-Gyangyang-Seri-Amper road; and Lankang-Dyis-Kagu-Sihin road.
Others are: Mangu Bye Pass;
Kuba-Tenti-Maunga-Daffo road;Kpsho-Chakarum-Kogom-Vwang road with spur to Vom
Vet; Bet-Dorowa-Mazat-Kuba road with spur to Nding;
Fobur-Naton-FursaMaijuju-Zandi road; Tahoss-Ganawuri road with spur to Dahreng;
Wase-Mavo-Gimbi road; and Lohmak-Gazum with spur to Kumkwam.
Payment of approved CVs to some contractors for continuation of work on some
ongoing projects today stands at N5,346,233,052.69.
Payment of N2,448,544,578.90, out of the
contract sum of N3,498,273,087.08 has also been made for three new road
projects and three direct labor works.
LANDS,
SURVEY AND TOWN PLANNING
Under this administration, the Plateau
Geographic Information System (PLAGIS) project was completed and was launched
on June 10th, 2016. By this, applicants are no longer denied land titles as was
the case in the last administration.
The Governor, at a stakeholders meeting on Effective Land Administration in
Plateau also approved the downward review of rates by 50% for land titles. This
is to encourage applicants to register their land titles.
In pursuance of governments industrialization goals, four proposed industrial
sites have been identified as contained within the Greater Jos Master Plan. And
in order to underscore its policy on peace and security, a piece of land has
been identified for a proposed Unity Layout at Naraguta, along Bauchi Road.
Another major highlight of the ministrys activities is the issuance of Right of
Occupancy to applicants. As it stands, a total of 485 of these have been
issued.
On the whole, there is a remarkable
increase in the tempo of activities in the ministry, with a resultant increase
in the revenue generated.
ENVIRONMENT
AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT
This
administrations desire to maximize the potential of the environment and nudge
Plateau State onto the path of mineral development is not in doubt.
On assumption of office, a state of
emergency was declared on the environment, whereupon a task force was
instituted to clear the heaps of refuse within the Jos-Bukuru
metropolis.
Subsequently, the monthly environmental
sanitation was re-introduced and has since been sustained.
In keeping faith with its plans for this sector, N30,000,000.00 being
counterpart fund was released to enable Plateau State benefit from the Nigeria
Erosion and Watershed Management (NEWMAP) project of the World Bank. On its
part, the World Bank has released $2 million for the programme which will soon
be launched by the Executive Governor.
The state is also expected to reap, in no
distant future, the benefit of the North-Central Nigeria Business and
Investment Forum which was held in Guanzhou, China earlier in the year.
Already, different groups of Chinese investors have come into the state and are
prospecting for minerals in various locations.
EDUCATION
Under this administration, there is steady improvement in the conditions
necessary for the conduct of educational activities. Efforts in this sector
began at the state-owned University at Bokkos where sanity was substantially
restored to enable the state maximize the institutions huge potential.
Governments commitment to educational
development is also noticeable in other institutions such as the College of
Agriculture at Garkawa. The Governor recently gave approval for the release of
one hundred and twenty-five million naira (N125,000,000.00) for the provision
of critical facilities required for the accreditation of programmes in the
College.
At the College of Nursing and Midwifery,
Vom, Governor Lalong has given approval for the re-engagement of 21 academic staff
to enhance staff strength and quality of training. Some physical structures and
equipment have also been improved upon, thereby facilitating an interim
accreditation of a number of courses.
The College of Health Technology, Zawan also got over 17 million naira to equip
and install an ultra-modern e-library, and is now in use having been
commissioned by the Governor.
Under primary and secondary education,
Governor Lalong has also approved the release of funds for effective running of
this category of schools.
Accordingly, 55 million naira was provided
to settle the backlog of school fees of Plateau State students studying at the
National Mathematical Centre, Abuja. In the same vein, over 15 million was
released to meet the needs of students on exchange programme.
Government has also granted approval for
the promotion of over 2000 teaching and non-teaching staff, which is expected
to motivate the staff for enhanced productivity.
HEALTH
In its desire to promote public health, the administration has been forthcoming
in its responsibilities to the health sector. On assumption of office, the
governor gave approval for the release of takeoff grant for the Plateau State
Primary Health Care Development Board.
Furthermore, five ambulances have been
procured and distributed to General Hospitals in Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Pankshin,
Langtang and Shendam.
So also, funds have been approved by the
governor, and have been released to offset surgery expenses for ten children
with heart defects who were operated upon.
One of the highpoints of activities in this
sector during this period was the containment of the recent Lassa fever
outbreak in which no casualty was recorded. The state, through the ministry,
was awarded a prize among four states for best reporting during the outbreak in
the country.
TOURISM,
CULTURE AND HOSPITALITY
Governments interest in this sector is
informed by the endless opportunities it offers for the development of our
state. On the heels of recent advances, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has
now been signed between the tourism ministry and a reputable Chinese company
(One Belt One Road) for the development of some selected tourism sites in the
state. These are: ROC International Hotel, Plateau Hotel, Jos Hotel, Jos Wild
Life Park and the Solomon Lar Amusement Park.
Government recognizes the Jos Wild Life
Park as one of the flagships of the tourism industry in the state. Hence,
despite limited resources, efforts are continuously being made to keep its
operations alive.
Sometime last year, a lion was killed after it escaped its area of confinement.
However, there is now a replacement for it with the acquisition of another one.
In addition, the Ministry has acquired a pair of camels (male and female), a
pair of crocodile and a rock python to add to the variety of animals at the
park. It also acquired a red fronted gazelle, a male equus caballus, caracal
lynx, baboon, common jackal, patas monkeys, Grimms duiker, Frasier eagle owl. A
breakthrough was also recorded in captive breeding at the park from which there
is now Nile crocodile, derby eland, patas monkey and dwarf cattle.
YOUTH
AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
This administration also recognizes youth
and sports development as necessary for the growth of society and our state in
particular. Consequently, it has not left out the sector in its development
plans. The administration, for instance, has remained faithful to its
obligations to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme with the release
of funds for its operations and activities especially at the orientation camp.
And under sports, the state-owned elite club, Plateau United has done
remarkably well in the current league season owing to governments favorable
disposition to sports development. Because of its sterler performance, the
Nigeria Football Federation has invited the club to play a friendly match with
the national team, the Super Eagles at the end of the current league season.
In other sports, the story is not
different; it has been a harvest of medals in athletics, badminton, cycling,
golf, gymnastics, hockey, kickboxing, judo, powerlifting, polo, taekwondo,
weightlifting, wrestling and para-soccer.
With
effort to complement the resume agenda of government, about 15 ford vans and
two potholes pitchers Howo have been distributed to the department of Vehicle
Inspection Officer (VIO) by Governor
Simon Bako Lalong.
