From Atang Izang, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, has described himself as not being a politician, but a technocrat who is in politics because it is the only means to access power and better the lives of the citizens.
Mutfwang made the assertion while hosting journalists in a parley at Twin Towers of the New Government House, Little Rayfield, yesterday.
According to him, he is a technocrat who runs his administration without recourse to political party, religious and ethnic inclination, thereby springing hope and liveliness to the citizens through the good policies he’s implementing which also are fast attracting investors to the state.
He reiterated that his target is to take Plateau to economic buoyancy heights where it will compete favourably with developed climes; as such he first ensured security of lives and properties, saying that if not of the intelligence and the proactive and pragmatic measures taken by his administration, the state would have been in total throes of war. And that despite the little skirmishes here and there, Plateau State is relatively safer in the North-Central than others as no location is under the control of bandits.
Mutfwang who attested revamping and boosting the Operation Rainbow which is now robustly functional, reemphasize his support for State Police, saying it is one of the greatest recipes for viable security in the country considering the inability of governors to control the Military and Police Force to secure lives and properties.
Highlighting his two years in office scorecard, Mutfwang briefly enunciated his achievements in the areas of the Civil service, transport, agriculture, education, sports and health.
CIVIL SERVICE
Though he paid inherited four months backlog of salaries arrears of civil servants after assumption of office, the governor refutes qualifying it as achievement, saying payment of salary is not an achievement but a duty.
The governor said Plateau is among the first states to implement the minimum wage and that his administration has trained many civil servants and equipped the ministries with gadgets and other equipment for smooth running of activities
TRANSPORTATION
Mutfwang took a swipe at those criticizing refurbishment of the locomotive trains, saying though they are right on the modern train and railway system, they have to understand that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
According to him, his administration has subsidized the means of transportation in Jos and Bukuru Metropolis which has enabled patrons to save N40,000 – N50,000 monthly.
On air travels, the governor said 3 flights have been restored from Jos to Abuja and 7 from Jos to Lagos, and his administration is working on transforming the Airport into an international cargo one.
On road infrastructure, the governor said he is completing the road projects started by the Jang administration across the local governments and will soon complete them.
HEALTH
Mutfwang attested that he inherited a despondent health system, but has so far improved it; adding that he completed projects at Plateau Specialist Hospital, set up a modern lab for diagnosis, increased departments from 2-6 and brought the dental clinic under the Specialist Hospital control.
He also stated that his administration is working towards establishing a state owned teaching hospital, and other modern hospitals for medical tourism.
AGRICULTURE
Mutfwang stated that for a robust agriculture to thrive under his administration, he split the ministry into two: crops and livestock.
He said he is working to develop capacity and raise Plateau potato to international standard through hybrid seedlings.
On his menu also he added is the ongoing constructions of modern international markets in Shendam, Mangu and Jingre. And that he will improve markets in the state capital too.
On livestock, the governor said his administration is working towards establishing cattle ranching to accommodate all and sundry who have the penchant for cattle rearing. And that pigs, goats and sheep too will have theirs.
The Jos abattoir will be modernized and expanded according to the governor with the capacity of slaughtering 500 cows per day.
Others that will be given consideration include: horticulture and coffee farming.
MINING
Mutfwang lamented the ongoing haphazard mining activities, saying his policy to revamp the sector and make it more profitable like the oil sector in the Niger Delta was misconstrued, as such; huge loses are recorded by the artisans who see the stipends secured everyday as huge blessings.
He lamented that the mineral deposits is one of the problems attracting insecurity. However, his administration is not relenting to boost the mining sector to compete with oil drills in the Niger Delta region.
SPORTS
Mutfwang said Plateau is the state which pays highest on footballers, and his administration will go down to the grassroots and enthrone robust football and other sporting activities.
He added that they are scouting for partnership with the private sector on Zaria Road Stadium.
In order to boost football in the state, he went on, Mutfwang said a massive ongoing reconstruction is taking place at the Rwang Pam stadium.
The governor finally thanked the journalists in the state for a robust practice and collaboration with his administration, saying their work is tremendous and has aided in attracting high profile patronage and conferences to the state. In view of this, his administration is working hard to reconstruct Plateau and Hill Station Hotels to better accommodation of investors, tourists and high profile visits and engagements.
He praised them also for not giving falsified information on insecurity to scare away investors and other tourists, but presenting the true position of things which has improved the economy of the state by attracting investors.
