The Plateau State Government in North Central Nigeria says that17 Local Government Council Chairmen have recorded significant progress in grassroots development through the execution of people-oriented projects across the state.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ephraim Usman Gar, stated this on Thursday during a press briefing in Jos, where he presented the outcome of a statewide project inspection tour covering all 17 Local Government Areas.
Gar said the inspection was undertaken to assess the level of completed and ongoing projects, ensure judicious utilisation of funds released to the councils and ascertain that projects meet quality standards and align with Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s grassroots development agenda.
He explained that “the tour, which covered the three senatorial zones, was also aimed at strengthening collaboration between the state government, local governments and traditional institutions.*
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the performance of the council chairmen, declaring that they had justified the confidence reposed in them by the state government.
According to him, “the projects inspected demonstrate that governance is being taken closer to the people, with interventions largely reflecting the actual needs of communities.”
In the Southern Senatorial Zone, Gar highlighted projects including the remodelling of youth centres, mini stadiums, Computer-Based Test centres, legislative chambers, primary healthcare centres, motorised boreholes and solar-powered streetlights.
Other projects inspected in the zone include housing estates for legislators and the Wase Rock Radio and Television Station. The Commissioner also noted the support provided by councils to security agencies, including facilities at the temporary headquarters of the 175 Infantry Motorcycle Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
In the Central Zone, projects inspected included the 23-kilometre Gugur Road construction in Kanke, the remodelled Dengi Multipurpose Hall, a 1,500-capacity event hall in Mangu and a 200-capacity Anatomy Laboratory at Plateau State University, Bokkos, funded by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
The inspection team also visited primary healthcare centres, rural electrification projects and the Palace of the Ngolong Ngas, among other interventions.
In the Northern Zone, the Commissioner listed primary healthcare centres at Sabon Gari, Chinye-Miango, Garba Daho and Furaka, rural electrification projects in Miango, council secretariat complexes and ICT centres among the projects inspected.
Others include ultra-modern markets at Rishari-Rutara and Zarakon, bridges linking Farin Gada to Rusau and Vwang to Kogot, police station outposts, as well as town halls in Kwang and Kuru.
Gar said the projects inspected across the 17 councils were largely people-oriented and consistent with the vision of the Mutfwang-led administration’s Time Is Now agenda.
He commended Governor Mutfwang for providing the enabling environment for the councils to operate, while also appreciating the council chairmen, traditional institutions, media organisations and civil society groups for their contributions to the success of the inspection exercise.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to monitoring local government activities, providing technical guidance and ensuring that councils effectively discharge their statutory responsibilities.
