Plateau state Information Commissioner, Ashoms Commend Gov Mutfwang for Approval of Ministerial briefing

From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos

Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms has commended the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang for the approval of ministerial briefing had been on hold for many years. despite being the primary duty of the ministry.

He said the approval demonstrated the governor’s political will, capacity and determination to return Plateau State to the path of growth and development.

Ashoms during his presentation pointed out the core mandate of the ministry as that of gathering and dissemination of government policies and programs.

He explained that the ministry had the duty to liaise with all media outfits and related organizations to ensure that the image of government and citizens is projected in accordance with the ethics of the journalism profession.

The commissioner highlighted the progress the ministry had made such as a retainership arrangement with a number of media organizations to ensure wide coverage of the state’s activities.

He disclosed that in line with emerging trends, the ministry had established its digital presence on the following platforms: Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Commissioner of Agriculture, Bugama Samson in his presentation said the ministry works closely with other government agencies, farmers organizations and development partners to achieve the state’s agricultural goals.

He said fertilizer for 2024 farming season would be shared across the seventeen local government areas, adding that about 300 youths were currently being trained in some aspects of agriculture in order to empower them bring development to the state.

Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Kachollom Gang, in her presentation said the ministry supervises, monitors and coordinates all state-owned and private tertiary institutions, to ensure that they operates according to government policies.

She mentioned some of the ministry’s achievements such as the approval and reduction of 50% tuition fees for the Plateau indigenes, upward review of scholarships for Plateau students, accreditation of some courses in tertiary institutions, payment of outstanding salaries of ad hoc staff for forty-four months, among others.

Speaking on her activities was the Commissioner of Finance, Dongkum Grace, who was represented by her permanent secretary, Roseline Dakwam, said the ministry was committed to effective resources mobilization, efficient allocation, prudent expenditures and the implementation of economic and financial policies of the state

Dongkum said the state’s payroll had been sanitized following the screening exercise that was carried out on the workforce and pensioners in the state, and has profited the state the sum of 500,000,000.00
as savings.

On the part of the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Chrysanthus Dawam, said the ministry was there to harness public resources into economic plans that would position the state on a pedestal of socio-economic growth, through resources allocation and competent workforce.

He added the state had keyed into the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2023, saying it also participated in the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the preparation of the Medium Term National Development Plan,(MTNDP) 2021-2025 and Nigeria agenda 2030 among others.

Speaking also was the Commissioner, Housing and Urban Development, Joshua Ubandoma, represented by the Director Administration, Peter Wuyep, said the ministry’s focus was on the sixth of the seven-point agenda of the administration which calls for robust physical and infrastructural development.

He added that the ministry was poised to drive physical infrastructural development, adequate urban planning, sustainable economic rebirth, peace, security and good governance.

Our correspondent reports that the briefing round up with six ministries who presented their scorecards among which was the Ministry of Information and Communication, who were oganisers of the score cards to keep the public informed of activities of all the ministries.