By Asile Abel,jos

The Plateau State Government has began monthly Ministerial press briefing to inform citizens on government activities in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs)

The monthly briefing start with 4 Ministries held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Education Building, JD Gomwalk Secretariat, Jos, Plateau State.

Declaring the briefing open, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Musa Ashoms, stated that the event was a core mandate of the Ministry of Information and Communication, expected to bolster its vision for an enlightened, educated and informed populace.

He added that the event also corresponds with the present administrations idea of carrying citizens along in accordance with the first focal point of the Green Cap Policy Thrust, which is “Good Governance and Citizens Participation in Sustainable Development.”

“I therefore make due acknowledgment to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for his enthusiastic support and expedited approval.

“…It is this attitude that drives the vigorous activities across various sectors and across the state, turning it into a huge project site for massive infrastructural development and an incubator for robust public policy initiatives.” He added.

Office of the Head of Civil Service hit the ground running with their report, where they enumerated responsibilities, successes and challenges of the office to members of the media community.

The Plateau State Head of Civil Service, Barrister Rauta Dakok, said the office is the engine room of government and the administrative machinery for implementing the State Government’s Policies and Programmes.

Some of the achievements she captured were the physical verification of staff and pensioners for the offset of Salary/Pension Arrears inherited from immediate past Administration.

She said the office also obtained approval for the release of Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000.00) Monthly to settle arrears of pensions/gratuities and death benefits from 1986 to date, adding that promotions for deserving civil servants is almost up to date.

“The establishment of Information and Public Relation Officer Cadre Structure on SGL 08 – 17 and Executive Officer (Information and Public Relations) Cadre Structured on SGL 06 – 14 in the Schemes of Service.

Barr. Rauta said the implementation of recalled workers into the mainstream civil service whose employments were initially suspended is at about 80% completion

The Head of Service also highlighted some challenges faced by the office to includes Inadequate Office accommodation, shortage of manpower in view of batched retirement and non availability of copies of current Public Service Rules and other relevant Government documents.

Others she said are indiscriminate encroachment on lands adjoining to Government quarters by
unscrupulous persons and how retired civil servants are still holding unto Government quarters by preventing the
serving civil servants from enjoying same.

Also, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ephraim Usman gave a scorecard of his ministry within the 11 months of the “Time is Now” administration which includes payment of salaries and pension arrears from the previous administration at the LGAs level.

Ephraim said, “The ministry in collaboration with ALGON purchased 35 Hillux vehicles for operation Rainbow to strengthen the security architecture at the grassroots level.”

He said the ministry in conjunction with the 17 LGAs is working on digitalization of indigene forms and marriage certificates with link to NIN.

On Chieftaincy Affairs, the Commissioner said the ministry conducted the selection and coronation of the new Ngolong Ngas on first class status and also the selection of the new Mou Youm of Garkawa on second class status, noting that his coronation will soon take place.

Other ministries who gave their scorecards on the first press briefing were Ministry of Education, (Secondary) and Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development.

Kano state Governor, Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf has arrived United States of America for high powered symposium organized by US Institute of Peace.

The three days conference being attended by Governors of Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa,and Plateau states, was designed to address insecurity in Northern Nigeria and better option to mitigate the challenge.

The intensive executive engagement will enable the Governors of some of the trouble state deep understanding on the dynamics of security threat, it’s socioeconomic dimensions, and near-term opportunities to drive stability in Northern Nigeria.

The US Institute of Peace would also broaden knowledge on strengthening conflict prevention in the region, through a non-violent strategies for engaging the armed groups as alternative for conflect resolution.

The strategic engagement being anchored under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph Sany, Vice President, Africa Center for US Institute of Peace, will also focus on policy coordination and management of peace and stability in Nigeria.

The symposium which ends 25th April, 2024 is part of the ongoing efforts of the northern Governors especially those from northwest to set a regional development agenda.

A seasoned economic expert, Musa Audu-Abubakar, has raised the alarm over the alleged illegalities taking place at the Nigerian Export Processing Zone in Kano, costing the Federal Government billions of naira in revenue.

Mr Audu-Abubakar, who raised the alarm while speaking with select newsmen on Tuesday in Kano, lamented that at a time when the country is battling with economic instability, finished goods are being diverted to the Nigerian Export Processing Zone for clearance.

According to the expert, the alleged illegality is taking place under the watch of some unpatriotic Customs officers.

He said: “Some businessmen are in the habit of diverting finished products to Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority because they pay as little as 30% of the customs duty while the government lose billions of revenue.

“They pay as little as 30% of customs duty payable at the Kano Free Trade Zone, while they don’t pay sometimes because they settle the customs officers on duty.

“This is affecting the economy. The government is losing billions of naira until the needful is done,” he lamented.

Mr Audu-Abubakar explained that the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority/Kano Free Trade Zone, which is located at the Fanisau Area of Ungogo Local Government in Kano is solely responsible for clearing raw materials, not finished products.

“Taking finished products to the agency for clearance is illegal and against the law,” the expert emphasized.

“The last time I visited the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority, I saw that not less than 10 containers of finished products were being cleared in the evening. The question is what brought finished goods to the Nigerian Export Processing Zone?,” he quizzed.

Mr Audu-Abubakar, therefore, called on the federal government to deploy its enforcement mechanisms with a view to ensuring that all finished goods go through the appropriate channels.

“The federal government needs to act fast and enforce regulations so that anyone found guilty of sabotaging the effort of the government in generating deserved revenue,” he added.