By Prince Sekat, Jos

Medical Practitioners under the two major unions of Doctors, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH) have recommenced the initially suspended strike action to press home some demands.



The unions hinted that resuming the strike action became pertinent on account of the inability of the State government to meet the agreement earlier reached by both parties.



ARD President Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Gogwan Bangs and his MDCAN Counterpart, Dr. Jonathan Bulus said the decision to resume the strike on Friday 18th February, 2022 was reached at the end of a crucial meeting held on same day the strike commenced at the Premises of the Plateau State Specialist Hospital after deliberations on the issues.



The meeting had in attendance Members of the two unions who deliberated substantially.



According to them, the issues under contention include:



1. Removal of Doctors from agreed Salary structure – the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) which ab initio Doctors in Plateau Specialist Hospital take home as salary only a percentage of what other Doctor were given in other tertiary teaching hospitals across the country, awaiting when fortunes of the State gets better.

This incomplete CONMESS salary structure as agreed upon for Doctors has been initially mutilated and eventually eliminated. Both unions are unclear about the present salary structure being implemented.



2. Ineffective method of payment of allowances (which forms a significant portion of their take home pay) Both unions are completely dissatisfied with the manner in which their allowances are being mutilated.



3. Failure of the government to remit in full dues deducted from their salary accounts to the respective bodies.



“We the members of both unions (ARD and MDCAN) have agreed that the suspended strike will now resume as total and indefinite!”



“Our earnest hope is that the government will rise up to their responsibility and address the issues itemized promptly to ensure that the strike called off” the Unions said.



It will be recalled that the unions on 23rd December, 2021 suspended the strike they started on 22rd December, 2021 which they said will resume without notice should negotiation fail.

GAGDI DONATES #40 MILLION FOR APC BY-ELECTIONS IN PLATEAU STATE

The February 26, 2022 scheduled by-elections for the vacant seats of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South State Constituency are, by every political permutations, a litmus test to survival of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling party in Plateau State beyond 2023.

To emerge victorious at the polls, the ruling party must stockpile its arsenals for the showdown, beyond the rhetorics of the mere availability of government machineries to work in its favour. It was in the light of the foregoing that the APC in Plateau State organized a fund raising dinner to garner support for her candidates in the by-elections.

The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi was fully on ground to lend his support with the donation of a whooping sum of #40 million, indicating #20 million each, to the two candidates.

He calls on the electorate of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South State Constituency to come out in droves next Saturday to vote Hon. Abbey Aku and Ezra Dakup, both of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the respective positions.

He pledged to personally embark on campaign tour of all the electoral wards in Pankshin South Constituency on Thursday, 24th February, 2022; after which he will round off the tour with the presentation of six cars and 20 motorcycles to some party faithful from Pankshin and Kanke LGAs; just like he did in Kanam LGA sometime ago.

The lawmaker expressed disappointment with the lack of physical presence of all the Plateau State APC gubernatorial hopefuls at the event, and also lamented the thrifty attitude of some APC political office holders, which has grossly affected the growth of the party in Plateau State, almost seven years after clinching power.

Gagdi charged his fellow party members who are holding various positions courtesy of the party, to cultivate the attitude of sharing the gains of their offices with the electorate, as only in doing so would they lure people to support the APC, especially now that times are hard.

According to the lawmaker, “the governor cannot be everywhere at the same time to assist the citizens meet their petty needs, that is why he appointed people from every part of the state into different positions; and the least such appointees can do is to share part of their earnings with the people around them, especially those in need. That is another way of making people feel the impact of the government”.

Rt Hon. Gagdi was earlier at the Mupun Youth Connect, a yearly gathering of Mupun Youth in Jos, where he made a donation of #1.2 million to the Mupun Youth.

POWERED BY:
Gagdi Media Team

GOVERNOR LALONG PRAISES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT TO PLASU AS NEW  STRUCTURES ARE INAUGURATED

Governor Simon Bako Lalong has praised the Federal Government for its support to the Plateau State University Bokkos (PLASU) which has made the Institution one of the fastest growing in the country.

Governor Lalong was speaking during the inauguration of the new Senate Building and Faculty of Health Science complex executed by the Tetfund.

Governor Lalong said the inauguration of the new facilities reinforces the existing strong partnership between TETFUND and Plateau State Government in the development of tertiary education in the State.

He said the projects which are within the 2019 High Impact Intervention initiative where PLASU was selected as a beneficiary for the North Central Zone, will go a long way in boosting teaching and learning at the University.

He said “although many tertiary institutions across the country lobbied very hard to be considered for the projects, PLASU was very fortunate to be given this privilege owing to our good relationship with the ES TETFund who is a son of Plateau; the Hon. Minister of Education who is a friend of Plateau and my personal friend; as well as President Muhammadu Buhari who has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Plateau has a special place in his heart”.

He said what this gesture has shown that for education in Nigeria particularly at the tertiary level to be taken to a desirable level, the three tiers of Government must collaborate and work together. As a Government, we shall continue to play our part by funding education to develop manpower and infrastructure that will ensure a good learning environment.

He also spoke about the ongoing strike assuring that his administration is doing everything possible to fulfill its obligations to the staff.

“We are aware of the ongoing strike by some Unions in the University for reasons bordering on earned allowances for which government has already approved the sum of N100 million as part payment. Let me assure the University Council, Management, Unions, and students that we are sparing no effort to ensure that the issues are resolved so that academic activities are restored without further delay” he said.

He also intimated the TETFund Executive Secretary that the Government has since commenced the construction of a Teaching Hospital for the University cited at one of our Legacy projects in Shendam. Very soon, work will be completed at the facility to provide a training ground for students that will be admitted to the new Faculty of Health Sciences.

While inaugurating the projects, Executive Secretary Tetfund, Prof. Elias Bogoro said the interventions were carried out in line with the determination of the Federal Government to improve tertiary education in the country particularly in State Universities.

He disclosed that although PLASU was considered for the projects on merit, the personal enthusiasm and intervention of Governor Simon Lalong at the highest level ensured that all necessary approvals and funding were given for the execution of the projects.

Bogoro also maintained that attention will also be given to manpower training and acquisition of modern scientific and research equipment for the new Faculty of Health Sciences which will go a long way in producing high quality manpower for the nation’s health system.

Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Prof. Yohanna Izam said the University has been taken to greater heights with the inauguration of the new infrastructure and the ongoing construction of others.

He thanked Governor Lalong for his commitment to making sure that PLASU takes a leading position in the country’s University system having revived it from a state of comatose on assuming office in 2015.

Izam also paid special tribute to Prof. Bogoro for his favourite disposition to the Plateau State University which he said has put his name in gold as far as the history of the Institution is concerned.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the
Executive Governor, Plateau State.
18th February 2022.

PLATEAU GOVERNOR ASSURES FARMERS OF MORE INPUTS AND TRAINING

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has assured farmers in the State of the determination of his administration to ensure that they get high quality farm inputs and training that will enable them produce optimally.

Governor Lalong said this while flagging off the nationwide first quarter 2022 roll-out of agricultural inputs distribution to farmers held in Jos Plateau State.

He said the roll-out is coming at the right time as farmers continue to prepare for this year’s wet season farming as well as carry on with the dry season farming exercise.

He said “amidst the numerous challenges facing our farmers in Plateau State which border on shortage of farm inputs, seedlings and requisite extension services, there are other extraneous security issues in many parts of the country such as kidnapping, banditry, herder-farmer conflicts and climate change. Apart from tacking these challenges we have in the recent years also recruited four hundred Extension Workers to promote best agricultural practices and to also carry out Climate Smart Agriculture that will adapt to, and also mitigate against climate change”.

The Governor disclosed that his administration is determined to run the economy of Plateau State on agriculture because of the natural endowments that gives the State the leverage to cultivate several unique and exotic crops.

He said the State has made tremendous investments towards this direction by reacquiring BARC farms in Zallaki, seated on 4,000 hectares of land. Out of this, cultivation of 1500 hectares of rice by the State agriculture company, the Agriculture Services Training and Marketing Company (ASTC) in the 2021 farming season has been done.

Lalong praised the Federal Government and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural  Development for their  collaboration saying that due to the high level of unemployment among youths which is causing many social problems, the State has developed a model to engage and empower 35,000 youths across 48 agricultural value chains. Another pilot phase for 10,000 youths will be rolled out soon for the 2022 cropping season.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Mahmood Mohammed Abubakar said the Agricultural sector has been a priority for the current Administration which became necessary to stimulate local production of food to achieve self-sufficiency, attract investments, create jobs and enhance the livelihood of farming families.

This he said made the sector to become one of the major contributors to the country’s economy, contributing about 25% to our GDP, small-holder farmers accounting for about 70% of national food production.

He said the roll out event is among the numerous initiatives being implemented by the Ministry, and the farmers will be supported with inputs Seeds, Growth Enhancers, Seedlings, Sprayers, Equipment among others. 35% of these items will go to Women Cooperative Groups, 15% to people with Special needs while 50% will go to Farmer Associations in various production clusters.

Abubakar appreciated Governor Lalong for restoring peace to Plateau State and also making sure that agriculture recieves the desired attention.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Plateau State Dr. Hosea Finangwai thanked the Plateau State Governor for his close contact with the Federal Government and the Minister of Agriculture will resulted in Plateau being selected as the first place of the input distribution roll out.

He appealed to the beneficiaries not to sale the items as this will be detrimental to their economic fortunes and the economy of the nation.

Women groups and other beneficiaries thanked the Government for their support through the distribution and premised to use it judiciously.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
18th February 2022.

GOVERNOR LALONG RECIEVES NIPSS SEC 44 NOMINEES; CHALLENGES THEM TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has received nominees of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Senior Executive Course 44 at the Government House Rayfield Jos with a charge for them to use their period of study to advance solutions in improving Local Government administration in Nigeria.

Governor Lalong told the nominees that they are coming to Plateau State at a time when the State is enjoying greater peace and stability as well as an increase in visitors and investors.

He said the theme of the Course which is “Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities” is very apt because the Local Government system in Nigeria has been dwindling due to many issues.

The Governor explained that this was why he was among the few Governors to grant full autonomy to the Local Governments in Nigeria after series of engagements with stakeholders.

He emphasized the importance of taking back governance to the people at the grassroots through strengthening the tier of Government that has the closest proximity to them.

Lalong assured the nominees that the Government of Plateau State will continue to do everything possible to make their stay at the institute very comfortable, urging them to use the opportunity to discover the true Plateau State that is reputed for Peace, Tourism and Hospitality.

Acting Director General of the Institute, retired Brig. Gen. Chukwuemeka Udaya thanked the Governor for his constant support to the Institute and his participation in its engagements.

He said Governor Lalong has worked hard to restore peace to Plateau State which has made NIPSS course participants very comfortable and eager to come to the State unlike in years past.

Udaya also disclosed that so far, 41 nominees have indicated interest in taking part in golf as an extra curricular activity because of the support and passion that Governor Lalong has demonstrated in developing the sport in the State and Nigeria as a whole.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
17th February 2022.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS CELEBRATE FIRST LADY AISHA BUHARI AT 51

The Northern Governors Forum has felicitated with the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajiya (Dr) Aisha Buhari as she marks her 51st birthday.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong in a congratulatory message said the Forum rejoices with the mother of the nation on the special day as it calls for special recognition of her efforts to impact the lives of Nigerians particularly women and children.

Lalong said the First Lady has over the years remained consistent and committed in initiating various programmes that have direct impact on the most vulnerable persons in society.

He said her pet project the Future Assured Programme has done a lot in empowering women and youths in all parts of the country as well as carried out humanitarian interventions to victims of crises and other natural disasters.

Governor Lalong also praised the the First Lady for giving support to the Northern Governors Forum in the efforts to address the Almajiri phenomenon, poverty, diseases and humanitarian needs of IDPs across the region and the nation at large.

He also acknowledged the leadership and mentoring capacity of the First Lady which has resonated with the First Ladies of various States through their various pet programmes that are equally making impact on the lives of the citizens.

The Northern Governors Forum wished the First Lady good health, God’s protection and wisdom to continue to stand up for the weak and vulnerable in society.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governors Forum.
17th February 2022.

Unlocking revenue : The Lalong legacy of prosperity

By Yakubu Dati

The opening of Domino’s Pizza in Jos during the week has trended among the fast-food connoisseurs.
With a Net income of 491.3 million USD (2020) the birthing of this American multinational pizza restaurant chain in Jos, is sure to shake the table, a little bit.
The news heralding the arrival of an ultra modern mall which will house ShopRite in Jos, has been greeted with jubilation.
According to accountants , the ‘book value’ of its operations in Nigeria as at 2021 is N25.6 billion.
The attraction of these global players is not by accident but results of deliberate actions.
Gov Simon Lalong assumed office with the keen ability to envision Plateau State’s future and to rally human and material resources around a shared vision
Early in the life of his administration, he inspired confidence following his deft moves in connecting the state to international trade. In quick succession, he acquired the BARC farms, and the Jos Inland Container Dry Port. Furthermore, he successfully lobbied for the completion of the Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos, and its subsequent designation as a Cargo international terminal. To add filip to the stratagem, Lalong’s intense lobby paid off with the establishment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, zonal office in Jos :dedicated to international shipping trade in the country. The approval to reactivate the Jos railway lanes and the dualization of the Abuja/jos/Gombe roads is well secured in Lalong’s goodie kit.
Gov Lalong has, no doubt, put in place an engine of local economic development with its value addition of job creation, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
The Jos-Plateau is being steadily recalibrated into a central core of commerce with attraction to investors, manufactures, suppliers and distributors.
There is a connect between the huge potentials and existing realities.
His deliberate policies and programmes as encapsulated in the Plateau State Development Strategy developed by the Boston Consulting Group(BCG) attracted many investors by its sheer clarity and achievable road-map.
With over six years of peace, the beautiful Plateau we projected is being achieved.
Those that locked their business premises and ran away from Plateau in those days are now working their phones making enquiries about staging comebacks.
As confirmation of the growing confidence on the Lalong administration, many private businesses have sprung up, while companies and government agencies are jostling for Jos as a prime venue for conferences and retreats.
Transport companies are experiencing a period of boom due to the desire by many to come to Plateau.
Investments in the creatives and sports industry is yielding high Returns on Investments (ROI) ditto Minning and Agriculture.
Aware of this, Governor Lalong has opened the state for critical infrastructure development by rebuilding roads and bridges.
In the Lands, Survey and Town Planning Ministry, Gov Lalong has simplified land administration through automation and the 50 percent waiver on title processing to empower the populace to key into land capital, in line with the greater Jos Masterplan. Furthermore, the Enumeration exercise,powered by the World Bank is the process of registering over a hundred thousand properties under the SFTAS pilot project
In a pioneering effort to unlock the revenue potentials, the State is benefiting from a strategic partnership with Compliance Professionals (CPP) led by the cerebral Mrs Ifeako Okauru, ex FIRS boss, whose track record at turning around the nation’s internal revenue reverberates to this day.
As Chairman of the Revenue Council established to harvest low hanging revenue lines, Gov Lalong’s alliance with CPP is redesigning the economic landscape, towards laying a sustainable foundation for financial self sufficiency, in line with the global trends.
Lalong continues to match words with action by creating opportunities for youths through new streams of digital skills up program and software engineering under the #codePlateau project propelled by ICT agency of the state.
The Performance Management and Results Delivery Office (PMRDO) has been structured into governance architecture to provide the requisite layer of transparency, in fiscal accountability.
The Governor’s office has transformed into a ‘melting pot’, of ideas, energised with enviable technical capacity to raise government revenue and to lower expenditure. The introduction of the Revenue-League, fashioned after the National Footbal league, is promoting healthy competition amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies for improved revenue.
The PSIRS, the State’s revenue ombudsman is championing process of integration and harmonising revenues from all revenue generating points, with a view to blocking leakages, addressing multiple taxation and growing the state’s revenue base.
The overall objective is to develop the capacity of the state to fund its budget solely, through the Internally Generated Revenues.
Bequeathing a robust revenue base for the next generation and generations yet unborn, remains a lasting legacy for Plateau’s amiable governor, Simon Bako Lalong.

RESPONSE TO THE THREATS RAISED BY HON. DANIEL DEM IN AN ATTEMPT TO RUN AWAY FROM THE REALITY

I, Hon. Timothy Dantong member representing Riyom Constituency will not be irresponsible to sit quite while destruction of the Exco of my party is being carried out which could lead to a great damage in our great party, the PDP.

I led the Concerned Youths who wrote and called for the suspension of Hon. Daniel Dem from the party based on the evidences before us that:

1. I believe that our Party, the PDP is well organized and well structured with proper channels of communications, that if need be for the party to send any important document from the National level to the State, they will not wait to send for just anyone who is available but will follow the appropriate channels of communication.
For an interested party like Hon. Daniel Dem to be a recipient of such document clearly spelt out the motive behind such action.

2. Hon. Dem actually started implementing the content of the documents he claimed he did not know about before it reached the State Secretariat.
I reported his intention days before the arrival of the said document
(When we get to the court we should made available evidence).

3. He instigated the Youth Leader of Attakar Ward through one Danladi magaji, that I, Hon. Timothy Dantong is responsible for the change of his name as an Exco which Danladi Magaji testified during an Exco meeting and is recorded.

4. On the day Hon. Daniel Dem delivered those documents to the State Party Secretariat and without the State Working Committee Sitting to understand the document to make public the said change in the names of exco if its true, Hon. Dem and his boss substituted the chairman of Bum ward. Mr Mungu Ngyang with his former Personal Assistant (PA), Silas Luka during an empowerment program in the house of sen. ID Gyang. This was later found to be same in the document he brought to the State Secretariat.

Many more evidence and testimonies will be made available when we get to the court.
You may please proceed as you chose to do so but we shall not in any way regret or make an attempt to withdraw our claims for the need to suspend such a member from the party.
For your information I have forwarded a written letter to the party in this regard.

As to your claim for having supported my aspiration to my present position and others, I will reserve comments for another day not to be distracted from the main issue but I want you to know that I can’t in any way partner with anyone who chose the path of injustice for whatever reason.

Hon. Timothy Dantong
Member representing Riyom Constituency PLHA

GOVERNOR LALONG CONDEMNS ATTACK ON MINERS AND COMMUTERS IN JOS; ORDERS ARREST OF PERPETRATORS

Governor Simon Bako Lalong has condemned in strong terms the attack on Miners in Yelwa Zangam general area of Jos North LGA in the early hours of Tuesday 15 February 2022 which left one person dead and others injured.

The Governor also condemned another attack on a commuter vehicle along road Jos-Jingir road where two persons were killed and others injured.

Governor Lalong who commended security forces for swiftly responding to the situation and restoring normalcy, directed them to go after the attackers and make sure all those behind the attacks are brought to justice.

The Governor also commiserated with the families of the victims and survivors, assuring them that Government will stop at nothing to ensure that those who carried out the dastardly acts are fished out and made to pay for their actions.

The Governor also reiterated his call to citizens to report any suspicious activity within their environment to the Police, Operation Safe Haven, Operation Rainbow, the Civil Defence, other law enforcement agencies, the traditional rulers or other community intelligence channels.

Meanwhile, the Governor has directed the Secretary to the Government of the State to coordinate the response and visit those injured and receiving treatment in the hospital to ensure they are receiving good care.


Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State
16 February 2022.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS FELICITATE WITH GOVERNOR ELRUFAI AT 62

The Northern Governors Forum has felicitated with the Governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-rufai as he marks his 62nd birthday (16th February 2022).

In a message to felicitate with the Governor, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong described Mallam El-rufai as a patriotic Nigerian whose zeal for peace, progress and development has been evident in all his activities including the governance of Kaduna State since coming to office in 2015.

Lalong said Mallam El-rufai has made significant contributions to the development of the Northern Region and Nigeria at large by playing key roles in various assignments that have shaped policies in the country.

He acknowledged the doggedness of Governor El-rufai in confronting the security challenges in Kaduna State by remaining firm in dealing with criminals who have been terrorising innocent citizens in recent times.

Governor Lalong also appreciated Mallam El-rufai for not only providing suitable environment for the meetings of the Forum in Kaduna, but also making valuable contributions on various issues as well as heading critical committees set up by the Forum.

While wishing him more years of good health, God’s protection and wisdom, Lalong charged Governor El-rufai to sustain his efforts in bringing development to Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governor’s Forum.
16th February 2022.