The Plateau State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ephraim Usman said his administration inherited 4.6 billion naira as salaries and pension arrears from the previous administration at various LGAs.
The Commissioner disclosed this while presenting his score card during a maiden 2024 ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication at the Joseph Gomwalk State Secretariat Jos,Tuesday.
He said this unfolded when he recently embarked on familiarization tour of the 17 LGAs in the state to inspect projects and ensure that they were efficiently utilizing their monthly allocations.
He explained that arrears of 1.7 billion naira meant for primary school teachers has been cleared by the Ministry.
Usman maintained that 1.2 billion naira out of the over 1.6 billion naira salary arrears of Local Government staff has been paid, adding that out of the over 1 billion naira Local government pension arrears inherited, Seven Hundred Million Naira has been paid, leaving an outstanding of 300 million naira only.
The Ministry along with the 17 LGAs and their Labour unions signed an agreement for the payment of wage award of N12, 000 each for three months to teachers, LGAs workers and pensioners.
The Commissioner assured that efforts are being made to clear all the outstanding arrears of the Local Government Areas staff and their pensioneers within the next few months.
On security challenges in some parts of the state, he explained that the Ministry in collaboration with ALGON purchased 35 hillux vehicles for Operation Rainbow security outfit to strengthen the security architecture at the grassroots level.
For cordial working relationship, Ephraim Usman stated that the Ministry also paid 200 million naira inherited outstanding allocation to Operation Rainbow.
To fill existing vacant stools of some traditional rulers, “The Ministry effectively conducted the selection and coronation of the new Ngolong Ngas on first class status. And also performed the selection of the new Mou Youm of Garkawa on second class status. And his coronation will take place soon”, he explained.
To curtail duplication of important documents in the state, the ministry in conjunction with the 17 LGAs is working assiduously into the digitalization of indigene forms and marriage certificates with link to NIN.
The Commissioner while emphasizing on the need to preserve cultural heritage of Plateau people said: “The Ministry in liaison with all the Council Administrations intend to establish museum for the preservation of the State’s rich cultural heritage of the people in all the 17 Councils headquarters.”