The Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has approved the appointment of Gyang Musa Bere as the Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPA).
Until his appointment, Bere was the Special Assistant (Media) to the Executive Governor and Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau State Council.
Plateau State University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Matur Malau Bernard has commended His Majesty the Gbong Gwom Jos and President of the State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Da Jacob Gyang Buba for the pivotal role he has continued to play in the development of Plateau State and Nigeria. Professor Matur was speaking when he led the Management of the University on a Courtesy and Advocacy visit on the Royal Father in Jos. Professor Matur said the Gbong Gwom Jos has served the Nation creditably as a Statesman and has also been involved in the educational development of the youths through the establishment of a School, in addition to being a Board Member of some Tertiary Institutions and Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa. He used the occasion to appeal to the Gbong Gwom to use his influence in assisting Plateau State University overcome some of its challenges bordering on Students and Staff accommodation, transportation and recreational facilities as according to him 90% of the students reside off campus. He assured the Gbong Gwom that his coming to the University will afford him the opportunity to consolidate on the development aspirations of the institution. Responding, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba while appreciating the Vice Chancellor for the visit commended the founding fathers of the University for taking the bold initiative of establishing the University which he said has opened doors for qualified sons and daughters of the State to acquire University Education which in the past was difficult to come by because of the limited spaces and competition for admission in Federal Universities. He said with the coming of the State owned University, youths of the State can now aspire to compete favourable with their counterparts in other States. While acknowledging the fact that running a University is not an easy task, Da Jacob Gyang Buba commended both past and present leaderships of the University for growing the University to where it is today. He promised that the State Council of Chiefs will soon visit the University to dialogue and chart ways of consolidating on the gains already achieved by identifying and presenting for Governments attention felt areas of need. The Royal Father said the time has come for the people of the State to join hands with the Government to make the State work by embracing the payment of taxes in the face of dwindling Federal revenue and reserves. He used the occasion to also decry the security challenges bedeviling the State and Nation. He regretted the spate of intertribal feuds and invasion by armies of occupation as the bane of under development being disguised in the apron of religion and called on both the University and the Government to develop ways of protecting the people.
PLATEAU BLOGGERS AND ONLINE MEDIA ASSOCIATION (PLABOMA) FELICITATES WITH MR. YAKUBU TADDY ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS ACTING GM PRTVC
We receive with delight and joy the news of your appointment as the Acting General Manager of Plateau Radio and Television Corporation.
This appointment didn’t come to us as a surprise because is well deserved and coming at the right time considering the immense contributions of Da Yakubu Taddy to the Journalism Profession over the Years.
Da Yakubu Taddy is a round peg in a round hole as far as the responsibilities of his new office are concerned having served in various capacities. It is our desire that he will bring his wealth of experience and skills to bear to take the organization to greater height and transforming it to meet the required standard. We pray God to grant him the needed capacity to justify the trust and confidence reposed in him by achieving the mandate of the organization in the best public interest.
Accept our warmth regards and be assured of our support.
In the wake of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency, Nigerians are expressing their confidence in his ability to implement decisive policies that will drive the country towards sustainable growth. These policies, characterized by their specificity and impact, are set to address significant challenges and bring about substantial changes.
From the early days of his administration, President Tinubu has demonstrated his readiness to tackle complex problems and prioritize development, reforms, and critical societal concerns. In his inaugural speech, he boldly announced the abrupt end of fuel subsidy, citing its increasing cost as unjustifiable. Instead, he pledged to redirect the funds towards crucial areas such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Remarkably, President Tinubu has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), health workers, petroleum marketers, and state governors. This unified backing speaks volumes about the confidence Nigerians have in his leadership and his commitment to making decisive policy decisions.
The removal of fuel subsidy, an issue that has historically been contentious, has been handled with remarkable transparency and satisfaction from the majority of Nigerians and stakeholders. This signifies a new era where trust is being rebuilt between the government and the people. It is a testament to the president’s ability to garner support and rally the nation behind a common goal of sustainable development.
The support given to President Tinubu reflects the high expectations placed upon him. Nigerians understand that for the nation to reclaim its lost glory, sacrifices need to be made, and decisive policies must be implemented. The president’s resolute approach has inspired confidence and instilled hope in the hearts of the people.
As the country moves forward under President Tinubu’s leadership, there is a palpable sense of optimism that Nigeria is on the right path to achieving sustainable growth. The decisive policies being pursued are set to provide clear guidelines, allocate resources effectively, and bring about the necessary changes to realize the nation’s potential.
In this new era, where much is expected, President Tinubu’s decisive policies are poised to redefine Nigeria’s trajectory, reestablish its standing on the global stage, and pave the way for a prosperous and sustainable future.
Plateau – Group calls on President Tinubu not to reward stakeholders who worked against APC with political a
The Group operating under the aegis of Plateau APC Renaissance Movement ( PAPCRM) has lamented that several stakeholders in the state who participated in large scale anti party actives during the 2023 general elections are now been seen in the presidency seeking for political appointment .
The group led by its Chairman Hon George Yilji, in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore those who worked against the party ( APC) in the last general elections.
The statement reads that We as a group have it on good authority that several stakeholders who worked against the party ,like Ex Governor Joshua Dariye ,the former minister of women affairs Dame Pauline Tallen , Hon Komsol Alphonsus Longgap, Hon Danyaro Sarpiya and others are now lobbying for political appointments and recently visited the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to congratulate him over his appointment.
Also not left out is the Incumbent Senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly, Senator Hezekiah Dimka who worked against the APC in his local government council all because he lost out in the APC Governorship Primaries .
According to the group ” Senator Dimka who is from the same local government council with the Plateau Governorship Candidate of the APC in the state Dr Nentawe Yilwatda mobilised resources and worked against his party in both the Presidential and Governorship election.
They added that “As we speak the People of his local government council especially APC members are not happy with him over his large scale anti party activities in both the Presidential and Governorship election ,thereby losing touch with the people of his LGA and Senatorial district at large .
Most of these stakeholders are the ones who betrayed the APC in Plateau ,The former minister of women affairs Dame Pauline Tallen and Incumbent Senator representing Plateau South Dame Nora Ladi Daduut all worked against the APC in the Presidential election because they said their faith as a members of the Papal knight would not allow them vote or work for the victory of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
We have it on good authority that Dame Pauline Tallen who was then Minister for women affairs mobilised resources and worked against the APC in the Presidential election as she worked for the Presidential Candidate of the Labour party Peter Obi ,as she was seen sharing rice and other campaign materials calling on her supporters to work for the Labour party .
Also we have it on record that she worked for the People’s Democratic Party ,during the Governorship election in the state ,the poor performance of the APC in Plateau state was as a result of this anti party activities from critical stakeholders of APC in Plateau state .
For Dame Nora Daduut it could be recalled that her convoy came under attack in Namu Community in Quanpan local government council recently because of her anti party activities ,as she was booed for working against her party by APC members.
As a group ,we are aware of the anti party activities of Former Minister of State for Information , Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande who worked for the People’s Democratic Party both at the Presidential and Governorship election in Plateau to the extent that he wrote a letter of support to the Plateau state chapter of the PDP as reported by some national dailies.
We want to call the attention of our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the anti party activities of Dr Danyaro Sarpiya, an aspirant in the APC primaries in Plateau who dragged the APC to court and frustrated the party in the build up to the election inorder to have his kinsman who is the Candidate of the PDP to emerge victorious at the polls.
According to the group, “Hon Sarpiya frustrated all efforts carried out by the state APC to broker peace in the party ,before the Presidential and Governorship polls.
GROUP WARNS TINUBU OVER TALLEN, DARIYE, & OTHER DESPARATE PLATEAU POLITICIANS WHO WORKED AGAINST APC BUT ARE SCAVENGING FOR
A group, Concerned Plateau APC Consolidation Vanguard (PACV) has again warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they described as the naked dance of shame by a group of so-called APC elders who are based in Abuja and continue to work against the interests of the party in the State, yet scavenging for appointments from the President.
Reacting to a recent photo where the so-called politicians visited the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume to congratulate him on behalf of the “Plateau APC elders”, the PACV expressed disgust at the shameless behaviour of the politicians whom it described as traitors and destroyers of the APC in Plateau State and Nigeria at large. They debunked the insinuation that they are elders of the party saying it is a big lie and pure impersonation.
The Spokesman of PACV Comrade Jok Samuel Carmillus said they are not surprised by the actions of the desperate politicians who specialize in running the party down at home and yet seeking to benefit from it using so-called “Abuja connections” and sentimental strategy.
He said it was unfortunate that the photo making the rounds of those who visited the new SGF consists of purely those who did everything possible to ensure that APC lost all elections in Plateau State including the State, National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential.
The infamous gang include former Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen, Chief Joshua Dariye, Hon. Comsol Alphonsus, Sen. Hezekiah Dimka, Dasuki Nakande, Sen. Nora Dadu’ut, Danyaro Sarpiya, Amos Gizo among others who did not only campaign against the APC, but campaigned for the Labour party openly and also gave money to the opposition PDP and its candidates.
They were also active is fuelling the Muslim Muslim ticket narrative by inciting the electorate to vote against the APC and all its candidates from the State and Federal levels. They said they had to defend their fate and publicly worked against Governor Lalong who accepted to be DG of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council. They castigated him and ensured he also lost his bid to the Senate.
Now that food is ready, they are running from pillar to post lobbying for appointments without shame. How can they expect to reap from where they did not sow? Where is their conscience?
PACV recalls vividly how Pauline Tallen came to Shendam during the presidential elections and gave money and directives to her supporters to ensure they voted Peter Obi as well as Patrick Dakum of Labour party as Governor.
That is in addition to her being aloof and staying away from all the activities of the APC right from the party primaries to the 2023 general elections where she never showed up nor contributed anything apart from blackmailing Governor Lalong in Abuja to whoever cared to listen to her. She clandestinely and openly fraternised and worked with the opposition against APC in Plateau State.
For former Governor Joshua Dariye, he did not hide his anti-party activity where he openly joined and campaigned for labour party while pretending that he is supporting Tinubu. When the results came out, he was exposed as indeed, the Labour party won the Presidential ballot in the State.
Others like Dasuki Nakande, Danyaro Sarpiya and Hezekiah Dimka who have contributed nothing to the APC except to side with the opposition to bring it down are also trying hard to get noticed by President Tinubu. Dasuki was one of the first people to lead a delegation to congratulate Governor Caleb Mutfwang having done so much campaign of calumny against Governor Lalong and the APC.
They have recruited Senator Nora Dadu’ut who despite working publicly against the Tinubu/Shettima ticket, believes that she can expoit her relationship with First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to get a ministerial appointment. It is a fact that she has never advocated for the APC or Asiwaju Bola Tinubu nor any of its candidates in Plateau State. PACV wants to put on record that the above shameless characters are not APC elders in Plateau and have never been known as such. Rather, they are impostors and pretenders who are desperados trying to get noticed by President Tinubu at all costs.
Comrade Jok said “we are confident that President Asiwaju will not fall for the gimmicks of this pretentious and fake elders who are nothing but shameless opportunists who are blinded by their ambitions to grab power at all costs. We know their futile mission will not destroy the APC as they wish, but will make it clear to those who love the party to continue working for its success”.
PACV also restates it commitment to supporting the leader of the APC in Plateau State His Excellency Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG, CON. It believes that having delivered a President for Nigeria despite the odds especially as worsened by the activities of saboteurs like Pauline Tallen and her gang, Lalong will remain the reference point for any appointment to be made from the State by President Tinubu.
Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Loyalty & Disloyalty must not be misconstrued on the Plateau, those that aided and abetted the systematic misfortune of the APC in the just concluded elections cannot become Heroes overnight while those that stood tooth and nail will be relegated to the background. I make bold to say without any fear or favor that these are the faces of those that fought against the victory of Mr. President, DG Simon Bako Lalong, DR.Nentawe Yilwatda, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, and APC in Plateau State…in broad daylight, these are the actors that plotted the coup that made it easier for the PDP to rig the last elections on the Plateau, so if you were asking how the rigging was done, just take a good look at this rigged picture. *JAGABAN WILL DO A GREAT DISSERVICE TO PROGRESSIVES ON THE PLATEAU IF ANY OF THESE LEADERS NAMES COME UP FOR ANY APPOINTMENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SOME OF US WILL OPENLY COME OUT AND FIGHT THE APC TO A STANDSTILL.* Monkey cannot be working while Baboon will come and Nicodemously be chopping. The Renewed Hope Mantra of Mr. President should not be shredded in rewarding brazen anti-party activities in any guise.
A Loyal & Staunch Stakeholder of APC on the Plateau. A Batified Apostle & an ambassador of Generation Next Movement.
Signed: Pekyes Istifanus Maichibi CONCERNED PLATEAU APC LOYALISTS. CC: SGF Senator George Akume CC: COS RT Hon Femi Gbajabiamila CC: Senator Adamu Abdullahi, APC National Chairman CC: Hon Festus Faunter, APC National Deputy Secretary CC: Hon Rufus Bature, APC Plateau State Chairman
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has granted approval for the commencement of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND)in Nursing Training at the Plateau State College of Nursing and Widwifery Vom.
The main goal of the ND/HND Nursing programme is to prepare competent, skilled, polyvalent Nurse practitioners, versatile midwives and professionally knowledgeable public health Nurses who will use problem-solving skills in providing safe, acceptable, effective and affordable quality health services to meet the health needs of individuals, families and communities at all levels of care.
While reacting to the approval by the NBTE , The “DIGITAL” Provost of the College, Mr. Bako Danlami Sambo FWACN, who expressed gratitude for the feat recorded in the College, assured that his Management would ensure that Al the guidelines set for operations of the programme are followed. He enthused that the College is blessed with the the equipment and erudite personnel to operate the programme effectively. He commended the NBTE for its efforts to strengthen Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria.
From College of Nursing and Widwifery Vom to College of Nursing Sciences Vom.
Audu Bappidak Sambo. Public Relations and Protocol Officer, College of Nursing Sciences Vom.
Former Governor of Plateau State and immediate past Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum Simon Bako Lalong has congratulated Senator George Akume on his appointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Similarly, the former Plateau State Governor has congratulated Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to the President.
Lalong described the appointments as well deserved and expressed confidence that the appointees will bring to bear their experiences and dept of knowledge in assisting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deliver on his Renewed Hope Mandate.
He said the track records of the appointees lends credence to the fact that they bring on board capacity and competence towards ensuring that the new administration meets the aspirations and yearnings of the people.
He wishes them well as they settle down to their new assignments.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Media Aide to the Former Governor of Plateau State.
In a publication by opr.news on May 31, 2023 with a screaming headline: ‘Group Decries Plateau State’s Lack of Development, Questions Gomos’ Competence’, which trended on some new media platforms, if anything at all, it was laughable as it makes nonsense of their motives. While we do not question the rights of any group to interrogate the activities of any public officer, we hasten to state that the leadership of the group is a beer parlour concoction; even as their real identities are questionable as they are filled with bile to tarnish Nde Gomos’ reputation. If they thought they were stirring the hornet’s nest, they failed woefully without achieving their aim. Ordinarily, we would have ignored the statement of the faceless Concerned Plateau Citizens Group because we suspect that they were sponsored by people who are unfamiliar of the functions and operations of the Economic Advisory Council of Plateau State, or they are just a bunch of ignoramus or both. However, in order to put the records straight especially because the hard-earned reputation of Nde Ezekiel Gomos, OFR is being soiled in the public domain, we have taken time to educate them and their likes, on the basic issues regarding the economy of the Plateau State. To do this, we took our time to ask questions, seek answers, seek for information and even interviewed some members of the Plateau State Economic Advisory Council. a) First, it is important for the public to know that the Plateau State Economic Council was set up by Governor Simon Lalong in 2015 purely as an advisory body with about 13 members being drawn from the academia, the private sector and several commissioners including the Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, the DG PLASMIDA etc. As the name implies, it is purely an advisory body, and so DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWERS OR AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE OR IMPLEMENT its ideas, suggestions or recommendations. Like any advisory body, its recommendations can either be accepted, rejected or noted. b) Apart from the public sector members like Commissioners, all its members including Nde Ezekiel Gomos are NOT paid any salary by the Government of Plateau State but are given occasional honorarium as appreciation for their sacrifice, and we understand that even this honorarium was later stopped in 2021. c) The Council meets occasionally or as the situation demands, to deliberate on issues sent to it by the Governor of the State. In some months, its meetings can be very frequent depending on the issues at stake. At the end of its meetings, its recommendations are sent directly to the Governor who decides what to do with same. d) We understand that Nde Gomos, OFR was appointed to the Economic Advisory Council in February 2016 as a member but was made acting Chairman in June 2016 when the substantive Chairman was given a national assignment. He remained acting Chairman of this Council until the end of the Lalong government, though along the line, he was made an Honorary Economic Adviser to the Governor in December 2021 – a purely nominal and non-salaried position. Of course, all Honorary Advisers to the Governor do not have any offices and are appointed purely in recognition of the expertise, and the range of advice they may be called upon to provide, and do not have any structure or office to implement their recommendations.
State of the Plateau State Economy 2015-2023 Since the crux of the write up of this faceless hirelings is the “lamentable” state of the Plateau state economy in the period 2015 to date, it is only fair that we take another look at the state of the economy. Unfortunately, the writers did not tell us what criteria they used in assessing the performance of the State economy for them to arrive at their jaundiced conclusions. Neither did they provide any indices or statistics to back up their claims. In addition, they did not make any bench marking comparison to other states in terms of figures and data. All we have is sweeping pedestrian descriptions- these are hallmarks of hatched jobbers who have been paid by some envious and angry person, sitting in some beer joint and concocting how else to destroy Nde Gomos’ reputation since previous attempts have failed woefully. For Nde Gomos to be singled out of a 13-member purely Advisory Council and to be blamed for the lack of economic progress of the State when such a body has no power to implement its recommendations is laughable. Where in the world do advisers implement their inputs? Even if one is to question the quality of their advice, how did the so-called Concerned Group know if the recommendations of the Economic Advisory Council are not top notch, afterall its recommendations are never made public. Moreover, the Economic Advisory Council has never been heard in the media making claims as to what advice they have given to the Governor and on what issue. It is left for the receiver of the advice/recommendations to accept, reject or note and thereafter direct the next cause of action. He/She may not even acknowledge that the advice was received from the Economic Advisory Council. In taking a look at the state economy, it is necessary to state that since 2015, both at the national and subnational levels, the Nigerian economy has suffered seriously from various external and internal shocks. The country went through two severe recessions and bungled through the COVID19 pandemic which in turn seriously eroded growth prospects. Nigeria has not fully recovered from this scenario – with inflation @22% at its highest peak in 20 and unemployment especially youth unemployment, is at an all-time high of about 50%. This has been exacerbated by the widespread insecurity and dwindling revenue at all levels. No state in Nigeria was spared this economic headwinds and most were in deficit mode, and even states like Lagos and Rivers, who are the only states to have balanced their budget in this period, are not spared from the shocks of the global and national economic challenges. Unless these witless writers are telling us that Plateau State is an island that was shielded from these economic headwinds. Naturally the economic fortunes of the State, like most states was bound to stagnate. It is a fact that most states depend on the monthly FAAC since revenue growth equally faced revere challenges. This is a State that was collecting an average of N5bn every month from the FAAC in the period 2011-2014, suddenly found itself collecting on average, only about N3bn monthly. But let us look at some indices that will rubbish the pedestrian argument of the so-called Concerned Citizens Group Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) This remains one of the common methods to measure the performance of a state economy since payment of revenue is a reflection of the revenue generating activities of the economy and the seriousness of a state government in collecting same. The IGR of Plateau State grew by 209% from N6.9bn in 2015 per annum to N21.4bn in 2021 thus making Governor Lalong the 4th best performing among the outgone governors in Nigeria. El Rufai was the best performer while Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was the last with 47%. This impressive growth may not be the optimum and while there is still room for improvement, but it is obvious that the Plateau State economy is not as hopeless as these writers have portrayed, and although we cannot divulge the role of the Economic Advisory Council in this growth, we must acknowledge that in terms of IGR, the state economy didn’t stagnate as claimed. Various initiatives and reforms are some of the factors responsible for this improvement. ii) Ease of Doing Business The ease of doing business in a state or a country has always been used by the World Bank and the Federal Government as a measure of the seriousness with which a government takes to attract new investments or to encourage existing investors to expand. This is done by rating all the 36 states in Nigeria including the FCT – the rating and evaluation used to be done by the World bank but is now being done by the Presidency through an agency called PEBEC. Using a set of criteria, the ranking is taken very seriously by all states in the Federation. In 2016, Plateau State was ranked as 26 out of 36 states and the FCT. In 2021, Plateau State moved up to 14 out of 36 States and the FCT. In 2023, Plateau was ranked 10 out of 36 states and the FCT. This remarkable improvement was made possible through a series of policy initiatives implemented by the Lalong administration which include setting up of the State One Stop Investment Center,( PS-OSIC) the Small Claims Court, Alternative Despite Resolution Center, the review of various land and tax policies etc that will make it easier for investors to come to Plateau. The impacts of such an improvement, in concert with the diligent implement of other initiatives, will be felt more in the future and not immediately. The improvement in the state ease of doing business environment has led to the springing up may new businesses. A survey by State of States showed that enterprises of all types in the State grew from 788,694 in 2016 to 818, 578 in 2020 just before the COVID pandemic. A cursory drive around the city of Jos/ Bukuru will show that several new hotels and entertainment centers have been established between 2015 and 2022 ( e.g. Crispan Hotel, Jagogarand etc ) thus contributing to employment and revenue generation. Similarly, there have been new agro-allied projects like the Derby Farms Lamingo which is geared for the exports of flowers and exotic fruits from Jos, the massive expansion of the NASCO Group Cornflakes Factory into the biggest in Nigeria in 2022- all with significant multiplier effects on the state economy. Size of the State Economy- GDP There are several attempts to rank states in terms of GDP, which is a measure of the total economic activities in a state, but below is the GDP of some selected Nigerian States in 2021 (https://stateofstates.kingmakers.com.ng/GDP/Default.aspx) Benue $5.8bn Nasarawa $3.1bn Plateau $5bn Lagos $29bn Kaduna $9.2bn Kogi $4.6bn Bauchi $4.6bn Adamawa $3.75bn It is obvious that the severe challenges experienced by the global and the Nigerian economy will definitely affect all States and Plateau cannot be an exception. The Economic Advisory Council could offer recommendations on improving the state economy but it is very unfair to hold it responsible for the challenges being experienced by the State economy. Debt Management A state’s ability to manage its debt to the extent that it allows it sufficient headroom to undertake its obligations to the citizens, is one measure of economic performance. This is more valid if the debt is deployed properly. A check at the Federal DMO revealed that as at June 2015, Plateau State domestic debt was slightly under N100bn, and this climbed to N149bn in December 2022 an increase of less than N50bn in nearly 8 years. Compare this to the following states- Bauchi N59bn in 2015 to N145bn in 2022, Benue N31bn in 2015 to N149bn in 2022 or Kwara N31bn in 2015 to N109bn in 2022. This level of borrowing by Plateau State Government is considered a disciplined approach and should be commended especially considering the significant drop in the share of FAAC from average of N5bn per month to N3bn per month, against the backdrop of the need to pay backlog of salaries and pension arrears left behind by Dara Jang, resume/complete the many uncompleted projects like the Mararaban Jama’a -to Secretariat Road junction including its flyover, Little Rayfield – Bukuru Yelwa Club etc . An example of a strategic and creative debt management approach, which we must applaud the Government of Simon Lalong for, is the innovative financing loan-to-IGR model for the construction of the British-American junction flyover that was recently completed and commissioned. It is hoped that the new administration will study this case and adopt it for future project development like the Jos Main Market Redevelopment. Performance of the other sectors A careful study of the internet will reveal that the performance of the Plateau state economy within the period 2015 to 2023 is not significantly different from other Nigerian states. Apart from Kaduna and Ogun States that attracted massive new investments, and Lagos and Rivers which consistently balance their budgets, most of the other states had mixed stories. These cases are exceptions rather than the rule and require special case study which is not the aim of our write up. In Agriculture, the State Government in 2017 attracted a N3.3bn loan from the African Development Bank, 70% of was used to build 18 Community Markets, 12 Diffuse Light stores, 2 Processing facilities, 17 Spring Captures, 26 Water Harvesting Structures for Dry Season Irrigation as well as a 200km “Spot Road Improvement” across the 17 LGAs of the State. According to the then Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, the fund would create 60,000 jobs, benefitting 100,000 families across the State’s 17 LGAs. -imagine the potential economic impact. With the support of GIZ, the State Government was able to offer technical and organizational training on group formation for 800 potato farmers and facilitated contracts between farmers and two supermarkets (Shoprite and Park’n’Shop) giving the Plateau potato farmers the opportunity to deliver 30 tons per month of Marabel potatoes. The State Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (PLASMIDA) created by Governor Lalong, was able to encourage the formalization and registration 100,000 businesses between 2015 and 2020, and during Covid-19, the agency disbursed MSME “survival fund” to over 38,000 business owners as Artisans/Transport grants, payroll support, Business formalization etc. With the support of GIZ, the agency trained over 60,000 businesses. To enable the state economy to navigate the COVID19 pandemic, the State Government keyed into the NG-CARES World Bank project in 2021where the state is benefiting from the N8bn World Bank grant to Nigerian states. The Plateau NG-CAREs project is expected benefit over 60,129 citizens of Plateau State. The State Government developed a policy to guide ICT development which has been identified by Governor Lalong as one of the key enablers of the State Strategic future, and part of this is the actualisation of the Silicon Plateau initiative which is aimed at driving ICT growth in the state; consequently the State Government through PICDTA launched the CODE PLATEAU Project in January 2019, a training program for software development and digital marketing skills trainings. By January 2023, over 5000 young persons have been trained and about 300 have been obtained rewarding jobs/ventures. The multiplier effect of this on the state economy in the near future is definitely going to be massive. CONCLUSION All these listed above are just snippets of the some of the changes recorded in the state economy from 2015 to 2023. The writers have no way of knowing the role of the Economic Advisory Council in all this. We are not sure but may be the definition of economic development to the faceless writers is only the building of factories etc. It may interest them to know that the services sector is today is the biggest contributor to the Nigeria’s GDP growth and most of the activities in this sector are invisible like telecom etc. Plateau state economy may not have witnessed factories in the last eight years but when last did we see any factories built in Jos? The Jang era? No. The Dariye era? No. There is nothing wrong in moving in the direction of services sector like ICT where a lot of value can be created. A careful study of the celebrated Plateau State Development Strategy which was midwifed by Nde Ezekiel Gomos and the Economic Advisory Council in 2019 clearly advised on what specific steps and strategies the state should take to get it out of poverty. Clear implementation strategies were outlined in the Strategy. It was not the duty of the Council to implement the Strategy.
It is not the fault of Nde Ezekiel Gomos that he has been found to be relevant by successive governments since the time of Governor Fidelis Tapgun who is credited with bringing him to set up the PIPC which was adjudged to be the among the best state investment companies at its peak. If Governor Mana, Governor Shuaibu, Governor Joshua Dariye, Governor Jonah David Jang and Governor Simon Bako Lalong had found him suitable to contribute to the economic development of Plateau State, what is his fault? They must have found him with value . If the writers say he is a cat with nine lives, it is because he knows that if one has ideas; he can rule the world.
The so-called duo of Gofwen Amos Gofwen and Nengak Musa were probably not yet born when Nde Ezekiel Gomos used the power of the radio in the 90s to reach every nook and cranny of the state to inculcate simple entrepreneurship message under Business Foundation that made Plateau State a toast of investors through the PIPC, as well as ensuring that the government bought for itself and civil servants shares in blue chip corporations.
Today, like it or not, in more ways than one, the state has continued to reap from such investments; even as individuals who listened to him are today millionaires through the ownership of shares from different companies.
It was not Nde Ezekiel Gomos who created the sobriquet of Plateau State being a ‘civil service state’. Such people like the face less characters could be disciples of many who got laid back, only assuming that government work was all they needed without venturing into other sources to survive. Have they asked themselves why many non-indigenes arrived Jos from other parts of Nigeria with only a bagco bag filled with a few clothes and have since refused to return home as they found life attractive to do business here?
Today, such people are multi-millionaires and perhaps employing some of our brothers or sisters, who thought nothing good, could come out of Plateau State except white collar jobs, or be happy being called Concerned Citizens and be used as faceless hatched jobbers.
Final word – let the faceless writers be educated that by and large, the Economic Advisory Council headed by Nde Gomos can only make suggestions and recommendations to the state Chief Executive but does not have any authority to implement any of its advice.
