PLATEAU STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIFIED STAFF GOT TRANSFERRED.

By Walbe Orgak

In order to repositioned the Local Government for improved performance, to boost the morale of staffs and also perform one of the cardinal objectives of creating the Local governments; that is unifying the state through staff transfer. The Permanent Secretary Plateau State Local Government Service Commission, Henry K. Lankwap, has today 27th July, 2020, announced the transfer of 7,551 Local Government unified staff to the various 17 Local Government of the State.

 

Miskoom Henry Lankwap while addressing Local Government Directors of Personal Management and the media revealed that the transfer affects 7,551 out of 10, 378 unified staffs of the Local Governments.

The Permanent Secretary said “I am indeed highly honoured to make this address today on the true position of the speculations, agitation and misleading information on the long awaited transfer of unified staff of the seventeen (17) Local Government Council which took place last in 2005”.

He said, "As you are aware, His Excellency the Governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong on assumption of the duty during his first tenure graciously appointed Commission members, made up of the Chairman, two Permanent members and by law, two part time members to run the affairs of the Local Government Service Commission. On assumption, members embarked on a familiarization tour of the 17 Local Government Councils in the State to interact with its staffers where four basic demands were made to include; No work no pay, lack of promotion, lack of conversion and transfer, amongst others".

 

Miskoom Lankwap further said “immediately after the tour, they swung into action by implementing the first three demands except the issue of transfer which was delayed due to the dissolution of the full commission members in June 2019”.

The Permanent Secretary discloses that “based on the foregoing and of course the dire need for continuity. He wrote a memo to His Excellency, to allow the Permanent Secretary and Directors of the Commission carryout the exercise for staffers of the 17 Local Government Councils who have stagnated in the same station for a period of over 15 years and above, a situation which had seriously dampened their moral thereby affecting productivity in the system, His Excellency graciously granted approval to do so”.

He also also revealed that the commission also in conjunction with the following relevant agencies like; Plateau Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA), Plateau Value Chain Support Project, National Social Investment Programme, State Cash Transfer Unit, Primary Health Care Development Agency and Plateau Football Association all contributed in transferring staff responsible for implementing World Bank Programmes and Projects Supported by UNICEF, EU etc.

He said “special priority was also given to those who submitted medical reports and were considered. Where there are conflicting interests from the aforementioned Agencies, the mother ministry was given priority”.

On the completion of the transfer exercise, another memo was written to the Executive Governor requesting him to kindly consider and approve the release of the transfer of the proposed unified staff of the seventeen (17) Local Government Councils, and those of the Local Government Service Commission which we are about to witness today.

Miskoom Lankwap also appreciate the full support of His Excellency and the contributions of these partners mentioned above as well as the cordial relationship with the 3 Tripartite Union and the media (Press) in the process of bringing back the lost glory of the Local Government Service in Plateau State.

 

The Permanent Secretary said in order to handle the task ahead the Directors of Personal Management are requested to constitute a committee in their individual councils for the proper documentation of all staff involved to give room for a smooth and seem less exercise in the interest of service please.

The Chairman National Union of Local Government Employee, NULGE Comrade Samson Mafuyai said they are fully in support of the initiatives but appeal to the authorities to consider those who will come with genuine appeal and also the issues of disturbances allowances should be considered.

COVID 19: most of those who died go to the hospital too late- Dr. Lar-Ndam

COVID 19: most of those who died go to the hospital too late- Dr. Lar-Ndam

By Orgak Walbe

The Plateau state Commissioner of Health Dr. Lar-Ndam Nimkong has called on the Plateau state citizens to improve their health care seeking behaviour by going to the hospital as early as possible whenever they notice any minor health challenges.

Dr. Lar-Ndam lamented that some people stay at home and resort to self-medication but only run to the hospital when the situation deteriorated.

He said, as is the case with COVID 19 most of those who died, go to the hospital went it is too late; they were taken to the hospital, some died even before their results came out, but all those who went to the hospital with their legs were treated and discharged.

The Commissioner noted that the Plateau State Government is testing over 700 people per day and is making efforts to reach out to many people as much as possible.

On the reopening of schools, Dr Ndam said His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong is working towards mass production of face mask, water and other essentials implements like hand washing utensils, soap and sanitizer.

He said, the Plateau state government is working vigorously towards fulfilling all the Federal Government guidelines on COVID 19 before reopening the schools.

The Commissioner called on the people of Plateau people to religiously and consistently obey all the protocol of COVID 19 to stay safe, not only to protect themselves but equally safeguard their friends, family, love ones and the general public.

He said people should not forget that before the outbreak of the COVID 19, Lassa fever was endemic in this part of the world, even though the last one case that was discovered in Plateau state was in June this year. We must not drop our guard because it is still with us, therefore, we must eat well, maintained a good hygiene, clean environment and go to the hospital as early as possible, he added.

COVID-19: Two health workers get infected in Plateau

Plateau government says two of its health workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID- 19).

Dr Nimkong Lar, the State’s Commissioner of Health, made the disclosure on Wednesday at Government House, Jos, after an emergency Executive Council meeting.

Lar,  represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Martin Azzuwut, said the health workers were among the 15 new cases confirmed on Tuesday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He explained that the new cases had increased the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state to 50.

The commissioner said that four patients were discharged on Tuesday, bringing the total number of patients discharged so far in the state to 15, while 35 were still receiving treatment in isolation centres.

“Of the 15 confirmed cases, 11 are linked to the case of the first COVID-19 dead patient in the state, and two are health workers.

“We currently have 11 patients in Plateau specialist Hospital, nine in Jos University Teaching Hospital, four were discharged yesterday and the 15 confirmed cases of yesterday are being moved to isolation centres for treatment,” he said.

Lar said that Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, had declared their capacity to conduct COVID-19 tests but were waiting to be assessed by NCDC before they start.

He explained that the approval would reduce the turnaround time for results from the National Veterinary Research Institute owing to the volume of samples they receive daily for testing.

The commissioner said that the state was currently training two health workers from each from the over 1,000 primary health centres across the state.

He added that volunteers would also be trained to assist in community engagement in order to curtail the spread of the disease in communities.

Also, the Commissioner of Information, Mr Dan Manjang, said that the state executive council gave approval to engage a consultant to boost the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) in the state from its current N600 million to N3 billion monthly.

He said council also approved the payment of N127 million to a company, for bulk purchase of water purification chemicals contracted since 2016 in the state

Manjang said the state government had constituted a Post COVID-19 economic committee to proffer strategies on economic recovery after the pandemic.

He said that a committee had also been established for the implementation of mobile laboratory to test for COVID -19 in rural areas.