From Yakubu Wuyep,Jos
The Plateau State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Chief Ephraim Usman Gar, has applauded the performance of the 17 local government council chairmen, declaring that they have justified the confidence reposed in them by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang through the execution of people-oriented projects across the state.
Gar made this known on Thursday, during a press briefing organised by the ministry at its headquarters along British America, Jos, where he presented the outcome of a comprehensive statewide inspection tour of projects executed by the 17 local government councils.
He explained that the inspection was aimed at assessing completed and ongoing projects, ensuring judicious utilisation of public funds, verifying compliance with quality standards and strengthening collaboration between the state government, local councils and traditional institutions in advancing the grassroots development agenda of the Mutfwang-led administration.
The commissioner, who described the exercise as part of the ministry’s statutory responsibility, said the inspection team comprised management staff of the ministry, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Jonathan Dabo, journalists, and representatives of civil society organisations.
Giving a breakdown of the projects inspected, Gar disclosed that the exercise commenced in the Southern Senatorial Zone, where the team assessed the ongoing remodelling of youth centres, mini stadiums, Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, legislative chambers, solar-powered streetlights, primary healthcare centres, motorised boreholes and housing estates for legislators.
Other projects inspected in the Southern Zone included the Wase Rock Radio and Television Station and facilities at the temporary headquarters of the 175 Infantry Motorcycle Battalion of the Nigerian Army, which he described as a demonstration of the councils’ commitment to supporting security and peace in their respective communities.
Proceeding to the Central Senatorial Zone, the commissioner highlighted the 23-kilometre Gugur Road construction in Kanke, the remodelled Dengi Multipurpose Hall, primary healthcare centres, a 1,500-capacity event hall in Mangu and a 200-capacity anatomy laboratory at Plateau State University, Bokkos, among the major interventions inspected.
He particularly described the anatomy laboratory as a landmark ALGON-funded project designed to strengthen academic infrastructure and serve generations of students, disclosing that the facility had been completed and handed over to the university, awaiting commissioning by Mutfwang.
Other projects included the Palace of the Ngolong Ngas and transformers provided for rural electrification.
In the Northern Senatorial Zone, Gar listed primary healthcare centres at Sabon Gari, Chinye-Miango, Garba Daho and Furaka, rural electrification projects in Miango, council secretariat complexes, ICT centres and ultra-modern markets at Rishari-Rutara and Zarakon as some of the projects inspected.
He further identified bridges linking Farin Gada to Rusau and Vwang to Kogot, police outposts and town halls at Kwang and Kuru as additional interventions aimed at improving infrastructure, security and community development.
Assessing the overall performance of the 17 councils, Gar expressed satisfaction with the findings, maintaining that the chairmen had demonstrated commitment to Governor Mutfwang’s The Time Is Now agenda, although their individual levels of performance might differ.
He stressed that the projects were largely determined by the actual needs of their respective communities.
On the controversial issue of local government autonomy, the commissioner maintained that the debate should go beyond the release and control of resources to include efficiency, accountability and the capacity of councils to deliver meaningful development to the grassroots.
He categorically stated that Mutfwang had neither interfered with nor dictated how the council chairmen should utilise their resources, adding that the state government had, on several occasions, provided support to local councils where necessary.
He urged stakeholders to focus on strengthening local government administration and ensuring effective transition processes to promote greater grassroots development.
On security, Gar disclosed that local governments were strengthening community-based security arrangements through the formal registration and training of vigilante personnel, noting that the personnel had undergone three months of training by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance intelligence gathering and collaboration with conventional security agencies in combating criminal activities.
Earlier, the Plateau State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mrs Ayuku Pwaspo, commended the commissioner for providing the platform for journalists to obtain firsthand information on the projects inspected, while appealing for wider media participation in subsequent inspection exercises to promote independent assessment, transparency and credible public reporting.
Gar, in his closing remarks, appreciated Mutfwang for providing an enabling environment for the ministry and local government councils, and commended the traditional institutions, council chairmen, journalists, and civil society organisations for their contributions, expressing confidence that the projects would further advance the administration’s grassroots development vision across Plateau State.