Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong has said his administration is
determined to change the narrative of governance on the Plateau in the
next four years.
Lalong made this known while speaking at the June 12 democracy day
and unveiling of his vision titled : “Plateau state in the Next Level:
Policies and Programmes of the Rescue Team, phase 2” at the banquet
hall, new Government house, little Rayfield in Jos the state capital .
He said “Fellow Citizens, during our Inauguration and Swearing-in
ceremony on Wednesday 29th May 2019, I promised to unveil the vision and
programmes of the government for the next four years through a Town
Hall Meeting that marks the celebration of June 12 Democracy Day.
I had given an insight that in further consolidating on our
achievements, our vision will continue to be based on the principles
that people need freedom and self-determination; and that people have a
right to seek truth and enjoy good social services delivery.
With due sense of modesty and humility, we believe that our performance
score card no doubt contributed to the overwhelming victory and
endorsement for a second term in the March 23, 2019 election. As a
result, we are resolved that the next four years will be devoted to
consolidating on the gains made and expanding on critical areas of
development for the benefit of the people.
On this note, it is my singular honour and pleasure to unveil the Vision
of our Administration, tagged: “PLATEAU STATE IN THE NEXT LEVEL:
POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE RESCUE TEAM, PHASE 2”. Without
prejudice, our vision for the new Plateau State promises to leave behind
legacies of our commonality, human dignity and welfare. The strategic
direction will be anchored on a three-point (3) policy thrust framework
namely:
PEACE, SECURITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT and
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC REBIRTH.
We have deliberately resolved to review the Vision into three policy
thrusts to enable us focus and concentrate our limited resources in
achieving more service delivery. In addition, we have carefully woven
all the critical sectors of the Plateau economy and society into these
three-point policy direction to ensure that we lay foundation for
sustainable growth and development for the future of our dear state
I will endeavour to provide a brief outline of our goals in each of these Policy Thrust:
PEACE, SECURITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
In the next four years, Government hopes to accomplish the following:
Consolidate on the gains of security and peace building, by focusing on
sustainable peaceful co-existence, equitable development; inclusive
governance process that takes into consideration the needs of the most
marginalized, including women, young people, minorities and people with
disabilities as well as protecting human rights through appropriate
Institutional and Legal framework. These strategies are designed to
continuously build confidence and uplift the quality of life of the
Plateau citizenry, which represent representing a dynamic force in the
national arena.
Pursue the upscaling of the efforts of the Plateau Peace Building Agency
to enable the implementation of the Strategic Road Map for Peace and
the Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD) as prerequisite for
breaking the cycle of violence; enhancing resilience; promoting social
cohesion, reconciliation and healing through forgiveness.
Sustain and enhance necessary support to the security agencies and
boosting the Operation Rainbow early warning/crises detection
mechanisms.
Ensure the full take off of the Mobile Police Force Barracks in Gashish, Barikin Ladi LGA and in Longvel, Shendam LGA.
Ensure the total return of all internally displaced persons to their
original places of abode before the end of the first year of the
administration.
Strengthen and upscale the role of Traditional institutions in the peace building efforts, community governance and development.
Pursue a deliberate process of public service reforms and restructuring
of our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in terms of
re-orientation, training and capacity building in line with current
realities; to perform their role as the engine room for effective
delivery of policies, programs and projects effectively.
Entrench transparency and integrity in the public service and the
affairs of government, in line with our zero tolerance for corruption
Sustainable excellent working relationship between the three arms
namely- the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary beneficial to the
people.
Ensure completion of all on-going projects, cutting across the different social services sectors.
Ensure good working relationship with the Presidency and its agencies
with a view to attracting more development Programmes in to the State.
Sustain and increase the partnership with development partners,
multilateral agencies and NGOs operating in and outside the state in
areas like peace building, access to health, water supply, agriculture,
education etc
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
In the area of infrastructural Development, we recognize that this
sector forms the bedrock of economic activities as it is not only a
catalyst but also a lubricant, the Government has within the last four
years placed premium on this sector.
One of our achievements have been the completion of inherited projects
from the previous administration and award of critical contracts at a
total sum of thirty-eight billion, one hundred and sixty-eight million,
four hundred and seventy thousand, six hundred and sixty-seven Naira
(N38,168,470,667.00).
In the next four years, Government hopes to accomplish the following:
Focused attention and resources on the completion of all inherited
infrastructure projects that cut across key sectors of the state.
Identify and prioritize new infrastructure projects that have
significant multiplier potential. These projects are expected to not
only enhance and lubricate the economy of the state, but upgrade the
quality of human capital. They include, but not limited to Education,
Health, Tourism, Commerce, Roads, Water, Agriculture and Food Security,
etc.
Planned infrastructure development projects are categorized into Short,
Medium and Long Terms covering the next six months, two years and
entire four years respectively.
3 SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC RE-BIRTH.
The past four years have witnessed the most challenging period in the
economy of Nigeria, which by extension affected all the States in the
country including Plateau.
The compelling economic recession and the sharp drop in oil revenue
which negatively impacted our share of Federal Allocation has created
the inevitable need for us in Plateau State to search for avenues of
developing and growing our economy in a sustainable manner based on our
resource endowments.
Apart from the impending increase in public sector expenditure resulting
from the implementation of the new minimum wage, there is the need to
meet the expectations of our electorate who gave us the mandate, by
executing the necessary projects and programs that will justify their
trust in government.
Without the necessary financial resources, these two key objectives will not be met
We must therefore see the next four years as a period devoted to putting
in place policies and strategies that will generate necessary financial
resources that will fund our development without relying exclusively on
Federation account. It will not be business as usual.
Based on our resource endowments including excellent weather, Plateau
State has the potential to be leader in virtually all aspects of
economic activity and we must lay the foundation for converting these
potentials into concrete gains.
During the next four years, Government hopes to accomplish the following:
Although we were able increase our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)
from N6.9billion per annum in 2015 to N12.7billion per annuum in 2018,
almost 100% increase, yet this level of IGR is grossly inadequate to
meet what the Rescue administration needs to fund our recurrent and
capital expenditure in the next 4 years. We shall therefore
re-invigorate our IGR machinery to ensure that we generate a minimum of
N2.5biilion per month or N50billion per annuum in the next four years.
All MDAs must henceforth see their activities as not only geared towards
service delivery, but also as revenue generating centres.
Besides pursuing a robust revenue generating policy in the next four
years, we will pay special attention to exploiting and developing our
resource endowments namely Agriculture, Mineral Resources, Tourism and
Human Capital using different strategic approaches.
Going forward, the Rescue administration phase II will take concrete
steps to encourage commercial agriculture and Food Processing, Livestock
and Dairy Development.
In specific terms, we will pay special attention to those crops that are
unique to Plateau State or in which we have competitive advantage like
apples, coffee, strawberries, rose flowers, Irish potatoes, acha etc
The ASTC and the PADP will be revamped and repositioned to achieve their
goals, while the Government will complete the purchase of BARC farms to
serve as a vehicle for joint partnership with reputable commercial
agricultural firms.
Provision of critical inputs like seedlings and fertilizers will be a
top priority, in addition to upgrading the Extension Advisory Services.
Lamentably, the huge mineral resource endowments of our state have
remained mere potentials without adding value to our people. In the next
four years Government will adopt a new approach; given our newly
promulgated Policy on Mineral Development.
In preparation for this, the State Government has revived its Mineral
Development Company (PMDC Ltd) and will adequately recapitalize it to
serve as our vehicle for any joint partnership with serious minded
investors.
Similarly, the State Government has entered into partnership with PW Ltd
to produce relevant geo-technical data and survey maps that would
facilitate and fast track the investment in the mining sector
In addition, we have set in motion machinery for working relationship
between relevant State agencies and the Federal Ministry of Mines and
Mining Development to ensure that mining activities in the State are
effectively monitored and the interest of our people protected.
In the tourism sector, the state Government recently declared a State of
Emergency in the sector. This implies paying special attention in terms
of upgrading our tourist facilities and creating the conducive
environment for both domestic and international tourism to grow.
In appreciation of contributions of the private sector in partnering
with us to drive the economy of the State, government will continue to
place emphasis in creating more conducive and enabling environment for
business to thrive.
Government will ensure that the necessary incentives like easier access
to land titles are implemented and the State One-Stop-Shop Initiative is
completed so that all obstacles to doing business are removed.
Plateau State is blessed with huge human capital. Our bulging youth
population is a very special asset that will be aggressively harnessed
especially in areas of entrepreneurship and ICT so as to tackle
unemployment. Government will maximally utilize the enormous potentials
that abound with the creation of the Plateau ICT Development Agency
(PICTDA).
The PLASMIDA will be specially empowered to undertake entrepreneurship
and skills training for youth and women across the State as a deliberate
strategy for boosting self-reliance. A special Enterprise Fund of
N2billion Naira in partnership between PLASMIDA and the Bank of Industry
will soon take off to provide loans and capacity building for
Entrepreneurs across the State.
The State Government intends to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of
Transportation and the Nigerian Shippers Council to fast-track the
completion of the Heipang Inland Container Port,
Government will conclude discussions with Chinese investors to take
advantage of the status of the Yakubu Gowon Airport as an Agro-Cargo
airport and explore the establishment of an Agro-Industrial Park for
food processing and fruit and vegetables export.
CONCLUSION
Fellow Citizens, with this shared vision, we hope to take this great
opportunity to make a more significant difference in terms of effective
delivery on our mandates and fulfilment of our promises. We are
determined to change the narrative of governance on the Plateau in the
next four years. We equally expect the good people of Plateau State to
reciprocate Government gesture, not only by giving their unalloyed
support, and harmonious co-existence with one another, so that together
we can achieve the much-desired development, a better society and
lasting legacies.
Finally, as I wish you all a happy Democracy Day, let me reiterate that
in this second term of office, it will not be business as usual.
As leaders, we shall always strive as to be role models of being in the
world with you and not over or against the people. This is our solemn
commitment.
MAY GOD, IN HIS INFINITE MERCY, CONTINUE TO grant us more wisdom in
implementing the template just unveiled, which will further redefine our
development for the common good.
