THREE YEARS PERFORMANCE OF LALONG ADMINISTRATION

On May 29th,2018 it will mark three years that the Plateau People gave the rescue administration it's mandate to steer the affairs of the state as captained by the Alert Governor Dr Simon Bako Lalong and his Deputy Prof.Sonni Tyoden. The Rescue administration rode on its campaign promises of a five pillar thrust,MunatareNews carefully examine the performance of the LALONG led administration along these lines. The 5-Point Policy Thrust of the Lalong administration 1.      Peace, Security and Good Governance 2.      Human Capital Development and Social Welfare 3.      Agriculture and Rural Development 4.      Entrepreneurship and Industrialization; and 5.      Physical Infrastructure and Environment Finance 1.      Payments of salaries from Paris Club, bail-out funds and overdraft 2.      N220bn inherited debt profile – amount being defrayed through salary payments, contractual obligations, amongst others 3.      Unapplied and excess charges 4.      Savings from tax audit making savings of N1.042bn 5.      Improved IGR through consultants who scaled up the revenue and employed over 500 youths 6.      Introduction of TSA/staff audit Peace and Security      Inherited a State without peace. Strategies adopted 1.      All inclusive government 2.      Dialogue with warring communities 3.      Establishment of the Plateau Peace Building Agency 4.      Restoration of confidence among the ethnic nationalities 5.      Resolution of boundary issues within and outside the state 6.      Good governance 7.      Working in synergy with the Federal Government in providing logistical support to security agencies 8.      Return of social life and recreational activities 9.      Jos is becoming a tourism destination, attracting conferences and boosting economic activity.                                                                                                   Works and Urban Development 1.      Massive construction of township roads and bridges 2.      Completion of Federal roads, bridges and street lights 3.      Construction of 17 roads across the 17 LGAs to connect the state. 4.      Provision of vehicles for VIOs Health 1.      Support of health systems – CANCER awareness, PLACA etc 2.      Support to International organisations – UNICEF, IHVN, etc 3.      Provision of health facilities – Ambulances, drugs, equipment 4.      Completion of abandoned hospital projects – Riyom General Hospital, rehabilitation of Plateau hospital 5.      Encouraging private sector involvement (private hospitals) 6.      Training and retraining of manpower 7.      Tertiary health institutions – accreditation of health institutions in Vow and Zaman, they won laurels for the State Micro Finance, Small and medium Enterprises 1.      Train over 3,000 women and youths in vocational skills acquisition 2.      N2bn with Bank of Industry (BOI) as matching grants for access by entrepreneurs 3.      Established the 1st micro finance bank in West Africa 4.      Establish the artisan job center in Jos 5.      Entrepreneurship and skill acquisition training of 500 youths and support with starter-pack in collaboration with ITF. Information and Culture 1.      Reopened the PRTVC 1224 MHz transmitter at Miango road which was shut since 2010 2.      Empowered PRTVC to assess signal from Star Times Digital Switchover and take-off of pilot scheme with the it being among the 15 stations on the set-top boxes. 3.      PRTVC has extended operations from 12 hours to 18 hours 4.      Acquire equipment worth N52ml for the Government printers Education 1.      Paid scholarship to Plateau State Students especially in critical areas 2.      SUBEB – massive construction of blocks of classrooms and school equipment as well as training. 3.      Reopening of the Plateau State University, Bokkos with the provision of infrastructure and accreditation of additional courses. About 500 lecturers were funded to improve their skills at different levels including PHDs 4.      Other institutions also empowered and strengthened are PLAPOLY Barkin Ladi, School of Agriculture, Garkawa, College of Education, Kurgwi etc. The Teacher’s Service Commission was also empowered. 5.      Employment of 500 teachers Lands and Survey 1.      Completion of PLAGIS project 2.      Reduction in the cost of procuring title documents   Youths and Sports 1.      Plateau United FC here elevated to the premier league and eventually won the competition 2.      Hosting of the Continental championships in Jos 3.      Completion of work on the Zaria road stadium which was approved to host international matches 4.      Promotion of Golf Tournaments in Jos thereby making Plateau the No 1 golf destination in Nigeria. For the first time, the State hosted the golf professionals qualifying school. The golf academy is also created. The Gov was honored with the prestigious position of the Life Vice President of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria. Culture and Tourism 1.      Introduction and hosting of the Jos Carnival 2.      Nzem Berom and other cultural festivals where reintroduced Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs 1.      Agwom izere chieftaincy stool reinstated after 20 years in Limbo 2.      Filling of other chieftaincy stools without acrimony Agriculture 1.      Completion of Fertilizer blending plant and commencement of operations 2.      Provision of fertilizer and other farming inputs to farmers on time and at affordable rates 3.      Reopening of the Panyam Fish Farm 4.      Improvements in rice cultivation 5.      The hosting of the Agric Summit created a road map in agriculture Water Resources 1.      Reactivation of the Water Board for optimal performance 2.      PURWASWA has been revived to improve access to quality water Commerce and Industry 1.      Composition of the Economic Team as a body of technocrats to advice government. 2.      Completion of institutional framework for the Jos Main Market, Jos Sheraton Hotel, Jos Hill Station hotel and the Plateau hotel 3.      Reactivation of the PIPC 4.       Reopening of the Plateau Bottling company. It is however not Uhuru for the Lalong administration as pockets of violence in the rural areas rear it's ugly head intermittently in places like Riyom, Bassa,Bokkos,Barkin Ladi etc conscious efforts needs to be employed by both the Government and the locals to tackle the menace completely to put an end to the killings on the Plateau. The area of employment needs attention as thousands of graduates and youths need to be engaged and empowered to add to the socio-economic development of the state. As we approach the Local Government elections and the general elections, it is now left for the Plateau people to either give a pat on the back to the rescue administration for a job well done or try an alternative with the opposition. happy Democracy day. #Makut Alfred Mashat