Protocols
1. It is with great pleasure that I address you today on this memorable occasion as we swear in some key statutory Government functionaries to various offices to drive the process of good governance, progress and development of Plateau State for the overall interest of our people.
2. While some of these appointees have been selected to fill existing vacancies in the agencies occasioned by the demise of previous holders of those offices, other ones are either newly appointed or reappointed for another term. However, the appointees have been carefully selected due to their tract record of service, diligence and competence in the public service and elsewhere.
3. By their pedigree and records, they have met the criteria to be so appointed to contribute their quota to the attainment of the vision of the Rescue Administration. We have done our best to see that we are putting round pegs in round holes. This is why the House of Assembly deemed it necessary to confirm their nominations. I want to thank the Rt. Hon. Speaker and entire Members of the House for their consideration and confirmation of the nominees.
4. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the appointees being sworn in today are expected to play crucial roles in the governance structure of Plateau State particularly in the areas of Civil Service Reform; Revenue Generation; Good Governance; and Accountability; as well as Social Welfare and Inclusivity. In other words, they are going to be deeply involved in implementing various aspects of our three-point policy vision of Peace, Security and Good Governance; Physical Infrastructural Development and Sustainable Economic Rebirth.
5. Based on the current challenges we face as a State, we must adopt new measures that will help us deliver services to our people and respond to their needs in a proactive manner. The economic and socio-political environment requires that we must be creative, ingenious, focus-driven, committed and determined to keep up to managing resources and people effectively.
6. You are aware that this administration has been pursuing the reform of the civil service in order to make it more effective, result-oriented and accountable.
7. Greater accountability and transparency is also being pursued in the civil service through the BVN to track those who are shortchanging Government. Already, about 532 names have been removed from Government payroll after an initial investigation, which revealed inconsistencies in their records.
8. Some had falsified their age or tampered with their records. Others could not appear to answer queries on such records. Further verification is being carried out by the high-powered Committee under the leadership of former Secretary to Government of the State, Nde John Gobak.
9. As experienced technocrats, Plateau State will be relying on you to deploy the best of your skills, techniques, and experiences to track down ghost workers, and other fraudulent staff who have over the years tampered with their records to perpetually remain in service.
10. This is the only way we can save cost and open up doors for the younger ones to be engaged in service and bring in fresh ideas about governance.
11. Moreover, this is a generation that is driven by Information and Communication Technologies that are at the tip of the fingers of our children. Why then would someone continue to tamper with records to block the younger ones from having an opportunity to serve the State and the nation?
12. In terms of boosting the economic fortunes of the State, Government has continued to pay greater attention to revenue generation. This is more so when the resources accruing to the State have fallen sharply due to many factors including the Corona Virus Pandemic. This development puts us in a very precarious position, making it difficult to muster resources for development.
13. Therefore, we took bold steps towards radically changing our revenue profile. We unbundled the then Revenue Board and signed into law the Plateau State Revenue (Consolidation) Bill 2020 leading to the creation of an Integrated Revenue Administration System. This led to the establishment of the Revenue Council as well as the inauguration of a new Board for the Plateau Internal Revenue Service.
14. In addition, we have commenced partnership with Compliance Professionals PLC, a tax consulting firm which is assisting us to increase our revenue collection and blocking leakages. Our target is that our revenues which have grown from about 600 million naira when we came into office to an average of 1 billion currently will rise to over 3 billion naira monthly. The new Chairman of the PSIRS who is part of the reform knows that all eyes will be on him to make the new revenue vision come to pass.
15. As for the Auditor General of the State; the Director General of Procurement; and the Member of the State House of Assembly Commission; you are coming into office when we have already commenced implementing Full Autonomy for the Legislature and Judiciary. There is greater need for transparency, accountability and due diligence across the three arms to ensure that resources are used judiciously and for the benefit of the people.
16. You will recall that prior to the implementation of full Autonomy, we had extended the frontiers of good governance in the State with more prudence in the management of the scarce State resources.
17. We improved the Budgeting Process in line with best global practices and adopted the State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme for better results. This has enhanced Citizenship Participation in the Budgeting Processes.
18. The Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Office (PMRDO) was also established to track, monitor and evaluate the implementation of Government programmes and projects in line with timelines and set targets. So far, it has performed creditably in ensuring that public resources deployed achieve the outcomes envisaged and give value to the people.
19. We also continued the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to aggregate the inflow and outflow of public resources for easy management and accountability.
20. With the re-invigoration of the Efficiency Unit and the Liquidity Management Committee, we have also done a lot to ensure that wasteful spending is eliminated while all resources are channeled towards areas that will yield profit for the State.
The Efficiency Unit has so far saved the State about 3 billion naira annually.
21. We must continue to build on this trajectory in order to improve the generation of resources, and most importantly deploy them effectively for the good of our people and also hold those saddled with the responsibility of managing them accountable. This is what will eventually translate into the attainment of the goals that the Government has been saddled with and the fulfillment of the social contract with the people.
22. For the appointee into the Board of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, you are also coming into office at a time when the people are gearing up for change of leadership at the grassroots. Already, PLASIEC has issued timetable and guidelines leading to Local Government Elections. We expect that you will play your part in ensuring that the forthcoming elections are free, fair and credible and represent the true wishes of the electorate.
23. As for the Chairman and members of the Disability Commission, you are fully aware that people living with disabilities have a special place in my heart. That is why apart from repositioning the Commission in line with the Law establishing it, my administration has continued to carry along this special group in all government policies and programmes. Our State has become a shining example for the entire nation which led to the setting up of the National Agency for People Living with Disabilities currently headed by our son as the Executive Secretary who was the Chairman of the State Commission.
24. Let me remind you that we have already raised the bar and we do not expect anything short from you. Therefore, you must take the Commission to the next level by ensuring that there is more inclusivity, visibility, and more opportunities for our people who are living with one form of disability or the other.
25. Already, there is a legal framework to ensure that the society carries along this category of people. You must ensure that there is compliance and enforcement of the provisions to enable them contribute to societal development.
26. For all the appointees, as you settle down to duty in your various offices, I assure you of Government support towards ensuring that you fulfill your duties to the best of your ability. While we do our best to make you comfortable, you must also be ready to be sacrificial, patriotic and self-less.
27. You must refrain from abusing your offices and also shun any act of corruption, favouratism and nepotism. The civil service is not a religious organization, political party or ethnic entity. You must be professional and fair to all according to the extant laws and regulations guiding your agencies.
28. Government will not hesitate to remove anyone of you found wanting and where necessary initiate legal proceedings to ensure prosecution of anyone found guilty of abusing the public trust.
29. I wish you the best and once again congratulate you for your appointments. Let us continue to Think Plateau and Act Plateau.
30. God bless Plateau State and the Federal Republic if Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG
Executive Governor of Plateau State
13th July 2021.
LIST OF CONFIRMED NOMINEES TO BE SWORN IN:
1. Barr Luka C. Fwangyil - Chairman, Civil
Service Commission
2. Chief James Barry - Member, Civil Service
Commission
3. Mr. Rindam Selchum Lar - Auditor-General,
Plateau State
4. Alh. Salisu Gyabe - Member, PLASIEC
5. Mr. Peter Dogo - D.G. Procurement
6. Mr. Arlat Dashe Dasogot - Chairman, PSIRS
7. Ms Kiyennah John Mizim - Chairman, Disability
Commission
8. Mr. Seth Attah - Member, Disability
Commission
9. Mr. Gyang Joshua Zi - Member, Disability
Commission
10. Catherine Kyamwan - Member, Disability
Commission
11. Mr. Deignmuk M. Damasus-Member, Disability
Commission
12. Hon. Dinah Lar - Member, Plateau
State House of Assembly Commission
13. Mr. Felix Rwang-Dung - DG, Plateau State Infrastructure Promotion and Regulatory Agency (PPP Office)
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