Jos Carnival Marks Return of Peace to Plateau – Hon. Saleh Shehu Yitmong, Hon Jacob Kassam

Plateau people have expressed joy at the recently concluded Jos Carnival, saying it marked the return of peace on the hitherto troubled state. Our correspondent who covered the event, first of its kind in the state, reports that it drew a large number of people from all walks of life.

 

Hon. Saleh Shehu Yitmong, member representing Dengi Constituency and Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, said: “The carnival has gone a long way to show that the government is serious about peace and transformation of Plateau State.

“We strongly believe that over a long period of time such an activity has never taken place. You can see for yourself how people came out en-masse regardless of their social standing, their tribes or religious beliefs. This is symbolic. Whatever the governor has been preaching, he is now translating it into action. As you can see, people are trooping out. This has passed a message that people are now living harmoniously together and now it has cleared doubts in people’s minds that Plateau is now safe for people to come and invest. The Jos crises are now history.

“When we were inaugurated, the first thing we did was to put up a committee to promote peaceful atmosphere. And now we are happy we are seeing the end product. My message to Plateau people is that we should embrace each other. We must love one another; we should work hard and be self-reliant.

“The carnival symbolizes the return of the Home of Peace and Tourism. Plateau is back on track and it has regained its glory.”

On his part, the member of the House of Assembly representing Kanke Constituency, Hon. Jacob Kassam, had this to say: “The carnival wouldn’t have been completed without hooting the Zombi horn. The carnival has gone a long way to show that Plateau people are united. We must strive and live together.

“Kanke is richly endowed with culture and I believe this is the first time this carnival is being held in Plateau. I won’t be surprised if by this time next year this rich display of culture is not held again.”

Veteran Journalists Suggest Diversion of Recovered Loot to Agric

The Plateau State League of Veteran Journalists (LVJ) has suggested that the Federal Government should adopt a method whereby 80 per cent of money realized through whistle blowing on corrupt politicians should be channelled into agriculture, education, health, tourism and revitalization of  moribund but viable industries throughout the country.

In a press release jointly signed by Dr. Gideon Barde and Hon. Tunde Oladapo, Plateau State Chairman and Secretary-General respectively of the LVJ, they said if properly implemented, the suggested measure would reduce strikes, protests, youth unemployment and poverty which the country is passing through.

They applauded the bold steps adopted by the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong to revolutionize agriculture, tourism and ailing industries throughout the nooks and crannies of the state.

“The group is particularly happy following the enthusiasm of youths, farmers and adults’ 

participation during the recently concluded agricultural summit and the cultural carnival initiated by Governor Lalong’s administration to employ restive youths and appealed to the Federal Government ton come to the aid of the state,” the statement added.

The League also commended the recent suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), but advised President Muhammadu Buhari to beam his searchlight further in order to flush out all the cabals under is administration as the League believed more revelations are coming out soon after the exit of the two kingpins.

The LVJ also congratulated professional journalists in the state such as Mr. Lukeman Bello of Unity FM, Mr. Yakubu Tadi of Plateau Radio Television Corporation, Mr. D. Femi of J-FM, and Mr. David King of Silverbird Radio for creditably winning the minds of listeners during the recently concluded radio analysis contest.

They urged the awardees to be fearless but objective in their news gathering and reportorial duties in accordance with the ethics of the profession which focuses on truth, justice and fair play.

Local Government Autonomy, a Panacea for Grassroots Participation in Nigeria Democracy

The demands for scrapping of state and Local Government joint accounts and State electoral commission, financial and administrative autonomy top the memo submitted to the Executive Governor Plateau State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly Hon. Peter Azi, during the solidary match by the Plateau State Chapter of National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) on 20th April, 2016 in Jos, the state capital.

The solidarity procession which started at the State NLC secretariat attracted overwhelming crowd and support for local government autonomy as the third tier of government.

While, receiving the Memo from the NULGE National Chairman, Governor Simon Bako Lalong promises to deliver the memo to the chairman Nigeria Governors Forum and equally make inputs and submit same to the state House of Assembly.

Governor Lalong said “I made a promise to Plateau People that I don’t want to see Salaries arrears again” he said, it is disheartening to find out that someone just siphoned over 7billion naira at a time when workers were on strike for non-payment of salaries, ‘that money must be returned’ he added.

Earlier, while receiving the MEMO from the National Presidents of NULGE at the premises of the State House of Assembly, the Plateau State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Peter Azi, said, “we in the Plateau State House of Assembly adopted the position of NULGE, because we believed the autonomy will strengthened the local government administration” he said they will give the memo express approval.   

In brief

As a result of lack of financial autonomy, local governments have become a shadow of themselves. To put it succinctly, they have been emasculated by the various state governments which continued to hold on to their statutory revenue allocations under various guises.

The polity is awash with reports of state governments tampering with statutory allocations of revenue allocated to the local councils while the latter is unable to challenge this flagrant violation of the constitution.

Speaking to the mammoth crowd that gathered to support the Plateau NULGE, Comrade Stephen Aluko said, without the grassroots support and votes, those in government wouldn’t  have been in their position today, he wonders why the same people are denying the local government autonomy. He said “as long as there is no autonomy at the local government level, there is no democracy in Nigeria”

Aluko said, during the presidential campaigned President Buhari promised to give local government autonomy if voted into power, and Nigerians are expecting nothing less than this, he added.

He said “if truly APC is for change and they wants to fight corruption, then the right thing to do is granting autonomy to the local government.

In his own part Gad Shamaki noted that the issues of local government autonomy is about rights, and freedom, because local governments operates at the grassroots level and it is the closest government to the people, they must have financial and administrative autonomy in order for development to be sustained. He said “Joint account is a fraud and must stop

Governor Lalong Commissions 15 Operational Vehicles for VIOs

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.

The Governor while commissioning the operational vehicles at the headquarters of VIO at Old Airport Road in Jos, Plateau State on Wednesday, Febeuary 8, pledged his administration’s readiness to improve the wellbeing of Plateau citizens by providing them with quality lives for effective good governance.

He declared that under his government no time will be wasted or delayed in construction of new roads among all other contracts awarded by government.

Lalong reassured citizens of the state of provision of conductive atmosphere in the area of road management. He charged the ministry to strengthen the awardable laws and commence the process of revenue collection on vehicles to ensure that there is improvement on vehicle taxes.

The governor called on all commuters to cooperate with the VIO

He condemned the use of bombs across and road block, those commissioning with help to address the challenges of traffic road laws in the state.

He assured of sending to regulate the movement of vehicles on our highway in the state to check the activities by eschewed all corruption tendencies to publish.

The vehicles are strictly for public use not for private by warning the commissioner to make sure that no vehicle is used for works, Plateau State, Hon. Pam Dongs said, commissioning for operational vehicles which is the first to wines the clear manifestation of rescue mission.

He said, the duty of VIO is to help towards improving revenue generation in the state, release or funds toward operation potholes within Jos, Bukuru Metropolis.

Dongs promised to ensure good maintenance of the newly purchases vehicle revenue generation and pitching of potholes within the state capital.

The permanent secretary, Engr. Sunday Hyat disclosed that this commissioning has boosted the yearnings and aspirations of the people and urged the VIO to make good use of this operational vehicles to good use.

TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION MALAM MUHAMMAD NAZIF AT THE CONFRENCE HALL OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, JOSEPH GOMWALK SECRETARIAT, JOS, FEBRUARY 6, 2017.

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.

Plateau Tertiary Institutions to Benefit from ICT, Computer Training

The Chairman Plateau State Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society of Nigeria, Mr. Silas Vem has advised youth groups to enroll for further information technology in other to brace up with ICT in wealth creation.

He called on citizens of the country to take advantage of the technological development to create opportunities to address challenges the current recession has created.

The major focus of governor Lalong led administration is to mobilize the mandate of advanced development ICT on the plateau which practice everywhere in the world today.

He said that this is an amazing opportunity most young ones are looking forward to seeing themselves Organize to stimulate the interest and exposing them.

Vem said  the one day symposium on ICT developing mobile solution to tertiary institutions across the state to  brainstorm on revenue generation.

Speaking to Journalists at the main campus of Plateau state polytechnic Barkin LADI on Tuesday ,Daniel Dung Dalyop encourages private and public sector investors in the state.

He said, the e-government refers to the use of internet technology as a platform for exchange information, providing services and transaction with citizen, business and other arms of government..

Dalyop pointed out "we ensure the successful implementation of customers project by maintaining the balance in various aspects which can affect the project such as the suggestion of best available options .

He reiterated further that Governor Lalong led administration has took a bolt step to partner with mobiles development solution to boost the income of youth in the state .

According to him, the workshop aimed at exposing the knowledge and potential in developing applications which can connect communities for easy business transaction.

He added that ," our expert team of technology and business consultants are to bring variety of knowledge and skills in addition to our industry in Nigeria and from around the world.

Dalyop explained that ,Lalong government is poised to provide conducive atmosphere for the private sector to grow regardless the dwellings business in the state.

The keynote address by professor (Tanko Ishaya said that the youth should take advantage of the technology advancement to improve their lives. 

World Cancer Day Observed in Plateau

Plateau State Chapter of the Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria ( CiSCANEN), joined the rest of the world in observing World Cancer Day to help unite people on the fight against cancer. The event was held on 4th of February, 2017.

The State Coordinator of CiSCANEN, Mr. Tokbish Yohanna, disclosed this, while on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malam Muhammad Nazif, in his office at the JD Gomwalk Secretariat Jos.

He said, World Cancer Day was established by the Paris Charter and adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris on 4th February 2000 saying," this charter aimed at the promotion of the research for curing as well as preventing the disease, upgrading the provided services to the patients, the sensitization of the common opinion and the mobilization of the global community against cancer.

"Since cancer knows no boundaries and individuals countries cannot address the challenges of cancer in isolation, a new cooperative approach to research, advocacy, prevention and treatment must be established. Plateau State Chapter considers this a privilege to map out strategies to ensuring that the state is taking with all seriousness by the entire Plateau people, it can be achievable if a holistic approach", Yohanna stressed.

      The State Coordinator, therefore,  solicited for the support of the state ministry for Information and Communication in dissemination of information to the nook and cranny of the state to help educate people on the importance of early cancer check up.

Responding, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malam Muhammad Nazif, commended the wife of Governor Her Excellency, Mrs. Regina SB Lalong, for initiating a programme that would eradicate cancer in the state and promised the ministry's support by creating awareness to the public.

      Plateau State Chapter of the Civil For Cancer EradicationIn Nigeria ( CiSCANEN), would join the rest of the world in observing World Cancer Day to help unite people on the fight against cancer  next month, the 4th of February, 2017.

The State Coordinator of CiSCANEN, Mr. Tokbish Yohanna, disclosed this yesterday, while on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malam Muhammad Nazif, in his office at the JD Gomwalk Secretariat Jos.

He said, World Cancer Day was established by the Paris Charter and adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris on 4th February 2000 saying," this charter aimed at the promotion of the research for curing as well as preventing the disease, upgrading the provided services to the patients, the sensitization of the common opinion and the mobilization of the global community against cancer.

"Since cancer knows no boundaries and individuals countries cannot address the challenges of cancer in isolation, a new cooperative approach to research, advocacy, prevention and treatment must be established. Plateau State Chapter considers this a privilege to map out strategies to ensuring that the state is taking with all seriousness by the entire Plateau people, it can be achievable if a holistic approach", Yohanna stressed.

The State Coordinator, therefore,  solicited for the support of the state ministry for Information and Communication in dissemination of information to the nook and cranny of the state to help educate people on the importance of early cancer check up.

Responding, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malam Muhammad Nazif, commended the wife of Governor Her Excellency, Mrs. Regina SB Lalong, for initiating a programme that would eradicate cancer in the state and promised the ministry's support by creating awareness to the public.