The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, on Monday, lamented the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians and blamed the situation on the last administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking during the swearing-in of 22 Special Advisers and heads of other government agencies appointed by his administration which took place at the Rayfield Government House in Jos on Monday, the governor noted that President Bola Tinubu inherited the worst-performing economy of Nigeria from Buhari since the country started its democratic experiment in 1999.
The governor said “We are at a very difficult juncture in the history of this country and I’m an advocate that after the election you forget politics and face governance.
“And even though the Federal Government is being led by a party other than my own, I owe you the duty to tell Nigerians the truth that this government inherited a worse situation than 1999.
“This government inherited an economy where we simply printed money up to the tune of N30 trillion and shared. This government inherited an economy where the crude oil we’re yet to take out of the ground has been sold in advance.
“So when you’re talking about the fall of the naira, it’s not rocket time. We sold our future under the last administration. No wonder you’re hearing of riots today, people intercepting food on the way. We are lucky on the plateau that perhaps we have more food than many other states.
“And I pray that the time will not come on the Plateau that we will see this kind of riot for food, but it means we must roll over our sleeves and get to work. And that is why, for us as a government, when we announced one of the positions that talked about Food Security, people were laughing but it is a serious issue.”
The governor announced plans by his administration to set up a special agro-processing zone in Barkin Ladi LGA in partnership with the African Development Bank to the tune of 300m dollars
He called on the new appointees to brace up to the challenge to enable his administration to reverse the ugly situation for the good of the people
The governor added “And to tell you about some of the appointees, I don’t know them, but because we want to get things done, we’re looking for the right people. Some of them were just introduced to me barely a week or two before the appointment.
“But because we became persuaded that they had the requisite CV to fit into the position we are looking for, we took them on board. And we are confident that with their coming on board, they will add value to governance. So the most critical part for all the advisers is that you must go and look for money.
“This is a serious matter. There’s no money to share. You must put on your thinking cap and help us where we can source funds. Some of the funds will be used for investment and development so that we can generate wealth. Those of you in charge of the constituencies are to step down whatever the government is doing to your constituencies so that together we can move as a people.
“We have suffered enough distraction. You know of the bloodshed on the plateau. The time is now to say enough of it at all.”
The 22 Special Advisers who were sworn in by the governor on Monday included George Daika, National Assembly Matters; Michael Dapianlong, Community Relations; Istifanus Mwansat, Special Duties; Titus Alams, Labour Relations; Yiljab Abraham, Policy And Governance; Timothy Golu, Strategic Communication; Rev. Dr. Stephen Dangana, Religious Affairs; Dadung Botmang, Business Development; Hitler Pwajok, Youth Mobilization And Engagement; Happiness Mathew Akawu, Women Development; Ezekiel Davou, Product Marketing; Abubakar Yahaya Kanam, Religious Affairs; Johnathan Dabo, Local Government Affairs; Dio Lamul, Rural Development; Joseph Gyang Danladi, Entrepreneurship; Esther Simi Dusu, Social Welfare; John Akans, Inter-Party Relations; Abbas Wokdung, Environment And Sanitation; Arc. Dachorom Daholo, Facility Management; Monday Nyam Ajiya, Peace Building; David Zoyong, Skills Acquisition and Prof. Danladi Matawal, Project Monitoring And Evaluation.
Others who were equally sworn in were Dr. Julie Sanda as Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency; Dr. Sumi Benjamin Garkuwa, Chief Medical Director, Plateau State Hospital Management Board; Sunday B. Rogo, Director General, Plateau Government Printing Press; Chris Gyang, General Manager, Plateau Publishing Corporation; Samuel Dapiya, Director General, Plateau Environmental Protection And Sanitation Agency; Rev. Benjamin Nadabo, Chaplain, Government House Chapel; Ponzing Bindong Gamde, Director General, Plateau State Energy Corporation; Esther Turaki, Director, Plateau Aids Control Agency; Nanban Lot, Coordinator, Sustainable Development Goals; Pharm Kim Jerry Bot, Director General, Plateau State Drugs And Medical Commodities Management Agency and Dr. Lengnen Jurman, Executive Chairman, Plateau State Disability Rights Commission.
The Special Adviser to the governor on National Assembly Matters, George Daika, who spoke on behalf of other appointees, assured that his colleagues would not disappoint the people.
