The Transition Committee set up to prepare a handing over note between the former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and the Governor of the state, Barrister Simon Lalong, has promised to recover all the assets allegedly looted during the tenure of Jang.
This was made known on Tuesday as the transition committee submitted its findings to the State Government.
In the findings, it alluded to the high debt profile of the state, which was put at N222.3 billion.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sony Tyoden, indicted Jang of financial recklessness.
Tyoden said: “The sum of N747.65 billion could be said to have been expended on Plateau State citizens, in the last eight years. Looking at the state in its current condition, we are at a loss where all this money went to.
“Second, the Central Bank of Nigeria remitted the sum of N2 billion to the coffers of Plateau State Government for the benefit of small and medium scale industries in the state.
“However, about 90% of this amount which was remitted to the state on the 17th of March, 2015 was drawn in two days (between 24th and 26th March 2015), for unexplained expenditure, without a single small and medium scale enterprise in the state benefitting from the money, yet the hand-over notes dated 29th May 2015, stated that the government was yet to access the fund.
“Third, and in addition, various sums totaling N6.1 billion were transferred from the accounts of SUBEB, SURE-P and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to State Government accounts, without justifiable explanations on how the funds were used.
“Four, on the 27th of May 2015, four political appointees of a certain government agency who were not entitled to severance allowances as specified by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, illegally paid themselves the sum of N30 million severance allowance.”
Receiving the report, Governor Lalong said it was quiet revealing, particularly the abuse of Civil Service rules and regulations and the huge debt profile of the previous administration.
According to him, government has deliberately allowed the submission of the report to guide it in her five policy thrust of redefining governance and charting a new course of affairs that will be beneficial to the people of the state.
These are: Peace, Security and Good Governance, Human Capital Development and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Industrialization and Physical Infrastructure and Environment.
Lalong assured the people of the state that the recommendations contained in the transition report will be implemented religiously within the provisions of law and best governance practices.
He said: We will strive in our efforts to address the many issues begging for attention, to be conscious of time and the expectation of our citizenry.
“We will be mindful of procedures, but will dance around the usual bottleneck that frustrates the implementation of committee reports.”
Lalong pointed out his government’s strong desire and determination is to provide the needed leadership and give the people qualitative service that will outlive the administration and return governance to its proper place.
He said: “We will make available to the people of the state details of the committee findings so as to guard against misrepresentation of facts and mischief makers who will want to confuse the general public on the work of this committee and how the recommendations made would road map good governance on the Plateau.”
Lalong explained further that government will without delay study and commence the implementation of the recommendation of the committee with a view to repositioning government for the important task of delivering on the mandate given to her.
He emphasized that the expectation of the people on the composition of the State Executive Council and other necessary ministerial restructuring would be addressed in line with the recommendation of the transition committee.
Lalong called on the transition committee to focus more on selfless service to all the citizens of Plateau State for understanding the necessity of this exercise given the circumstance of government.