By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Chief Ephraim Usman Gar, has declared that all 17 Local Government Council Chairmen have justified the confidence reposed in them by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s administration.
Addressing a press briefing in Jos on Thursday, Gar presented a summary report of the Ministry’s statewide project inspection tour across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
He explained that the Ministry, which oversees Local Governments and chieftaincy institutions, including district and village administrations, embarked on the tour to assess completed and ongoing projects, ensure the judicious utilisation of funds, verify quality standards and strengthen synergy among the State Government, Local Governments and Traditional Institutions.
The tour was conducted in line with Governor Mutfwang’s “Time Is Now” vision. It involved the Ministry’s management, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jonathan Dabo, members of the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The tour commenced in the Southern Zone, where the team inspected several projects, including the ongoing remodelling of youth centres, a mini stadium, Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, legislative chambers, solar-powered streetlights, Primary Health Centres, motorised boreholes, housing estates for legislators and the Wase Rock Radio and Television Station.
The team also inspected facilities at the temporary headquarters of the 175 Infantry Motorcycle Battalion of the Nigerian Army, which Gar described as a clear demonstration of the Local Government Councils’ support for security and peace.
In the Central Zone, covering Kanam, Kanke, Pankshin, Mangu and Bokkos, notable projects inspected included the 23-kilometre Gugur Road in Kanke, the remodelled Dengi Multipurpose Hall, Primary Health Care Centres, the 1,500-capacity Event Hall in Mangu, and the 200-capacity Anatomy Laboratory at Plateau State University, Bokkos, funded by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
Other projects inspected included the Palace of the Ngolong Ngas and transformers provided for rural electrification.
The Northern Zone, which was the final phase of the tour, covered Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas.
Projects inspected included Primary Health Centres at Sabon Gari, Chinye-Miango, Garba Daho and Furaka; rural electrification projects in Miango; Local Government Secretariat complexes; ICT centres; ultra-modern markets at Rishari-Rutara and Zarakon; bridges linking Farin Gada to Rusau and Vwang to Kogot; police station outposts; and town halls in Kwang and Kuru, among others.
According to Gar, the projects across the 17 Local Government Areas were people-oriented and based on the actual needs of their respective communities.
“Providing dividends of democracy at the grassroots remains the top priority of this administration. From what we have seen, governance has truly been taken closer to the people,” he said.
He thanked Governor Mutfwang for providing the Ministry and the Local Government Chairmen with the necessary support to operate without interference.
He also commended the Chairmen, Traditional Institutions, media practitioners and Civil Society Organisations for their contributions to the success of the inspection tour.
On Local Government autonomy, Gar said attention should focus not only on independence but also on the efficiency and effective performance of the councils.
He noted that Local Governments had demonstrated their capacity to execute major projects, including radio and television stations and a 1,500-capacity event hall.
The Commissioner added that Governor Mutfwang did not interfere with or dictate how Local Government Chairmen utilised their resources.
He therefore urged journalists to advocate for an improved revenue-sharing formula that would enable councils to execute more meaningful projects at the grassroots.
Gar also pledged maximum support to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to mobilise journalists for visits to project sites to assess the progress and quality of Local Government projects.
On security, he said Local Governments were actively contributing to the protection of lives and property through specialised security outfits established to complement conventional security agencies.
He disclosed that members of a security outfit had recently undergone three months of training at Zaria Road Stadium, with the training conducted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to him, the newly registered security organisations are expected to collaborate with conventional security agencies in combating crime and strengthening security across the state.
