Gentlemen of the press
I welcome all of you to the first in the
series of briefings for the year 2017. This year, we are beginning in February
because of a modification in the schedule of our activities. By this
arrangement, the briefing will henceforth hold only in the last two months of
every quarter. What this means is that in the second quarter of the year, we
will meet here only in May and June; in the third quarter, it will be August
and September, while that of the fourth quarter will be featured in November
and December.
You will realize that this edition is
essentially a recap of the milestones recorded from the beginning of the
administration. While this is intended to bring you up to speed on areas that
have been covered, there are additions which suggest that much more is still
being done in spite of the state of economic affairs.
We are happy that what we started
together last year has progressed steadily with your cooperation, support and
commitment. Indeed, there is no greater joy than having to share the glory of
our efforts with all of you who have lent your time, energy and intellect to
this monthly exercise. I hope will we continue this way for the benefit of our
state. I crave your attention as we begin once again.
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 Basic 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 account maintained by Plateau State
Government bank is on. Consequently, demand notice has been served on the
affected commercial bank 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 investment 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 person 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.
Effort is being made towards full
reconciliation of all debt of the state. This has led to the restructuring of
previous administration’s debt at a lower interest rate. As at September 2016,
the total debt portfolio was N110, 812,286.79 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 servant and pensioners, and has also paid arrears of
promotion, annual increment, etc.
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
One of the goals of this administration
is to complete project inherited from the last administration. Consequently, on
assumption of office, the administration took over the remodeling of the
Plateau State Governor’s 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 Work and
Housing preparatory to the commencement of the project.
22,500 housing units are to be constructed at
nine sites under 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 Goals (SDGs).
In the regard, it has supported the many
efforts 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 Action across sectors relevant to child protection, following
which the final document was launched by the state governor in September 2016.
Training for MDGs, CSOs, CON, 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, cosmology.
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 Nr525,675,690.30.
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 Kasuwa, and
total bridge in Shendam.
Furthermore, contract for 16 more road projects
have been advertised. They are Maraban Demshin Shimankar road with spurs to
Dhargan-Angwan Rina-Angwan Dadi Kalong-Nyak road; Dokan Tofa Ba’ap Kurgwi road
with spur to Lardan, Bwal, Kwor and Tim; Shinkwan-Tunkus (Shendam bye pass)
road; Wase –Kadarko –Dadin kowa road; Dengi-Bashar-Gajin Bashar road;
Dengi-Kwalmiya Dugub-Gagdi road; Dwaki-Gyangyang-Seri –Amper road and Lankang
–Dyis-Kagu-Sihid 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-Fursa-Maijuju-Zandi road; Tahoss-Ganawuri road with spur to
Dahreng; Wase-Gimbi road and Lohmak-Gazum with spur 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
N3, 498,273,087.08 has also been made for three new road projects and three
direct labor works.
HEALTH
In its desire to promote public health, the
administration has been forthcoming in its responsibility 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.
One of the highpoints of activities in this
sector during this period was the containment of the recent Lassa fever
outbreak in which no casually was recorded. The state, through the ministry,
was awarded a prize among four states for best reporting during the outbreak in
the country.
CONCLUSION
On behalf of my colleagues from the
various ministries, I thank you for your time and attention. God bless.
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