The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, had said that his administration has put in place machinery to ensure that all monies allegedly siphoned by functionaries of the immediate past administration were recovered.
Lalong, who made the pledge in a state-wide broadcast to mark the 100 days of his administration on Sunday, also pledged to halt the violent conflicts in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and parts of Jos South local government areas, which have continued unabated and have left the state with painful memories of horror and a large number of internally displaced persons.
The governor said, “Through the instrumentality of law, we would immediately pursue the recovery of funds and all government properties annexed or carted away. These include monies fraudulently siphoned through the instrumentality of state agencies for which works have not been done or have not reached the level of payments.”
He stressed that he would set up a Technical and Professional Audit Committee to sustain the tracking and recovery process of funds and the application of funds to certain projects, programmes and institutions.
He added, “Our approach to resolving this challenge is hinged on rekindling first, confidence in government’s sincerity to solving the problems and then the willingness of the communities for an end to the crisis. Our efforts in facilitating dialogue through many consultations are yielding result beyond imagination. Thus, whilst through the efforts of the Special Task Force the issues of outright criminality and terrorism are checked, the communities themselves through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, set up by the government, will actively participate in evolving practical solutions to resolving the conflicts.”
Lalong hinged the focus of his administration on peace, security and good governance; human capital development and social welfare; agriculture and rural development; entrepreneurship and industrialisation and physical infrastructure and environment.
Lalong said that despite the poor financial situation of the state, he has been able to pay workers salary arrears for five months as well as three months pension arrears.
He said the government will endeavour to clear the outstanding, following the receipt of the bailout. He also said it would also resume road construction on the 18 ongoing metropolitan roads as well as the almost completed Federal Low Cost Housing network.
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