Plateau debt profile hits N307b – Committee report says

A committee set up by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State to investigate the financial activities of the immediate past government led by the former Governor, Simon Lalong, has revealed that the State is having a debt burden of N307 billion as against N200 billion formerly brandished by Lalong’s government.

The Committee, known as set up last month with a name tag “Four-Year Strategic Development Blueprint for Plateau State and that of the Plateau State Transition Committee, was headed by Prof. Ganyir Lombin.

Receiving the report on Monday at the Jos Government House, Mutfwang said he was shocked to learn that the debt profile was actually N307 billion as against N200 billion revealed before the 2023 general elections.

Mutfwang said he will ensure that he acts on the committee report promising he will not allow it to be swept under the carpet.

The Governor in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, said: “I want to assure you all that these reports will not gather dust on the shelves. We are going to make prudent use of them and study them appropriately.

“These reports will give rise to further investigation and further studies that we need to embark upon and we will not waste time in doing so by the grace of God.

“You highlighted the debt burden. I knew that throughout the campaign, we were under the mistaken belief that our debt burden was around N200 billion and to hear that it is N307 billion is quite intimidating and worrisome”.

“But by the grace of God, the challenges we are confronted with are not insurmountable. Of particular concern is the issue of security which unfortunately has become to us, a major distraction.

“We are confident that by the grace of God, with some of the new security personnel on the ground, and with the Special Adviser on Security assuming responsibility, we will be able to see a difference, not too long from now.”

Mutfwang assured that he will ensure that his mandate of protecting lives and properties will be fulfilled in the State.

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However, on his part, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Lombin lamented some challenges during their task, which according to him did not pave way for an easy job.

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He lamented that the former Governor, Lalong, did not avail the Committee the opportunity of making inputs into the handover documents submitted to the joint committee before May 29, 2023.

He said the handover note presented to Governor Mutfwang by Lalong was scanty and lacked necessary details as they did not follow the agreed template developed by the Joint Committee.

According to him: “The handover notes stated that the revenue which accrued to the Plateau State Government from May 2015 to May 2023 stood at N872 billion. The total expenditure was only given from May 2015 to December 2022 and not up to May 2023 at N810 billion.

“Does this suggest that there was no expenditure from January 2023 to May 2023? Or was it a deliberate misinformation? The government needs to look at this critically and where necessary, take approximate action.

“There is no clear figure for the State’s Monthly Wage Bill. However, this administration has inherited a backlog of four months of unpaid salaries to public servants amounting to over N11 billion. Outstanding gratuity and Pension arrears of N24 billion was also inherited.

“The Legacy Projects are marred in controversies and unresolved legal cases which have stalled their implementation. Currently, the sum of N12 billion for this project is still in the custody of the Trustees of the funds.

“There are 3, 692 items of Government Assets and Properties including cars, houses that were sold and auctioned at a ridiculous price both within and outside the State. This needs to be further investigated and where necessary, appropriate action be taken.”

“Governor Mutfwang inherited a near-bankrupt State, with weak institutions, low public morale, and a high level of insecurity but with high expectations from the citizenry”, he said.task, which according to him did not pave way for an easy job.

He lamented the former Governor, Lalong, did not avail the Committee the opportunity of making inputs into the handover documents submitted to the joint committee before May 29, 2023.

He said the handover note presented to Governor Mutfwang by Lalong was scanty and lacked necessary details as they did not follow the agreed template developed by the Joint Committee.

According to him: “The handover notes stated that the revenue which accrued to the Plateau State Government from May 2015 to May 2023 stood at N872 billion. The total expenditure was only given from May 2015 to December 2022 and not up to May 2023 at N810 billion.

“Does this suggest that there was no expenditure from January 2023 to May2023? Or was it a deliberate misinformation? The government needs to look at this critically and where necessary, take approximate action.

“There is no clear figure for the State’s Monthly Wage Bill. However, this administration has inherited a backlog of four months of unpaid salaries to public servants amounting to over N11 billion. Outstanding gratuity and Pension arrears of N24 billion was also inherited.

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“The Legacy Projects are marred in controversies and unresolved legal cases which have stalled their implementation. Currently, the sum of N12 billion for this project is still in the custody of the Trustees of the funds.

“There are 3, 692 items of Government Assets and Properties including cars, houses that were sold and auctioned at a ridiculous price both within and outside the State. This needs to be further investigated and where necessary, appropriate action be taken.”

“Governor Mutfwang inherited a near-bankrupt State, with weak institutions, low public morale, and a high level of insecurity but with high expectations from the citizenry”, he said.