27 years of uninterrupted democracy ,I’m the greatest beneficiary says ,Governor Mutfwang
Yakubu Busari
The Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has described democracy as the foundation of freedom, accountability, citizen participation, and good governance, noting that the achievements recorded by his administration over the past three years were made possible by the mandate freely given by the people of the State.
He made this disclosure during a town hall meeting held at Crespan Hotel ,Jos on Friday.
He reflects on his journey in public service, the Governor described himself as a beneficiary of democracy, emphasizing that the democratic process provided opportunities for individuals to serve regardless of background or status.
“Over the past three years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to building a government anchored on transparency, accountability, compassion, integrity, and responsible leadership.
” Through prudent management of resources and purposeful governance, we have worked diligently to restore confidence in public institutions and lay a solid foundation for sustainable development,”he added.
Governor Mutfwang identified security as the foremost challenge inherited by his administration and outlined measures taken to restore peace across vulnerable communities.
He disclosed that the government revitalized Operation Rainbow, trained and deployed over 2,000 community-based personnel to support intelligence gathering, strengthened collaboration with security agencies, and established emergency response channels that have helped prevent numerous criminal activities.
“Two days after assumption of office, we convened a State Security Council meeting and followed it up with personal visits to displaced persons’ camps and affected communities.
“We immediately began conversations with security agencies and security chiefs in Abuja because we realized that Plateau’s security situation was not fully appreciated at the national level”, said Governor Mutfwang.
He reiterated that his administration remains committed to confronting insecurity decisively, stressing that negotiating with criminal elements is not an option.
The Governor stated that upon assumption of office, his administration inherited significant salary arrears and a weakened civil service system. Through prudent financial management, the government cleared outstanding salary obligations, ensured regular payment of workers’ salaries, and far paid over ₦20 billion in pensions and gratuities.
“When I took over, part of February salary had been paid while March, April and May salaries were outstanding. We had salary liabilities exceeding ₦11 billion, while the only accessible funds available to government stood at ₦1.1 billion.” He stated.
He further highlighted the introduction of merit-based appointments, improved staff welfare, and extensive capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing efficiency and professionalism within the public service.
Governor Mutfwang disclosed that reforms within the revenue system have significantly improved the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which has grown from less than ₦1 billion monthly in 2023 to between ₦3 billion and ₦3.5 billion monthly.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to broadening the state’s economic base through investments in productive sectors rather than relying solely on taxation.
The Governor identified mining as a strategic pillar of economic growth, noting that ongoing reforms have improved revenue generation and strengthened community participation in the sector.
He also announced the revitalization of the Plateau Mineral Development Company and ongoing efforts to establish value-addition industries, including a modern tin-processing facility, to maximize benefits from the state’s mineral resources.
Reaffirming Plateau’s status as the Home of Peace and Tourism, Governor Mutfwang said significant investments are being made to reposition the sector as a major economic driver.
He cited ongoing upgrades at the Jos Wildlife Park, strategic partnerships for wildlife conservation, investments in tourism infrastructure, and the development of a comprehensive Tourism Master Plan aimed at attracting local and international investors.
Describing agriculture as a key component of the state’s economic agenda, the Governor said the administration is transitioning from subsistence farming to mechanized and commercial agriculture.
He highlighted investments in improved seed varieties, farm mechanization, fertilizer distribution, irrigation projects, and innovative farming technologies designed to increase productivity, create jobs, and improve farmers’ incomes.
“For over sixty years, Plateau has fed Nigeria, West Africa, Chad and Niger with potatoes. We have therefore decided to brand it properly. Henceforth, we call it Mato Potato because it belongs to us.”
The Governor further revealed that locally manufactured hand tillers developed by a Plateau innovator are currently undergoing pilot testing.
”We are test-running about 200 hand tillers this farming season. If successful, we will scale up production to 2,000 units. Our goal is to eliminate the drudgery of manual farming and make agriculture attractive to young people.”
He also announced the procurement of about 500 trucks of fertilizer for farmers ahead of the farming season and ongoing investments in irrigation and water infrastructure.
The Governor also emphasized efforts to strengthen the livestock value chain through investments in dairy production, ranching infrastructure, modern abattoirs, and forage development.
Governor Mutfwang noted that substantial investments have been made in healthcare infrastructure, laboratory services, and Plateau Specialist Hospital and other medical facilities, positioning Plateau as an emerging healthcare hub. “In the health sector, we have done quite a lot. We have significantly improved the status of Plateau State Specialist Hospital, and we are building capacity to transform it into a Teaching Hospital.”
In the education sector, he highlighted the reduction of tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, increased scholarship support, and investments in institutional development and human capital advancement.
He further pointed to ongoing road projects across all local government areas, improvements in public transportation through the Metro Bus Scheme, and major investments in urban renewal and water infrastructure as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life for citizens.
The Governor stated that youth empowerment remains central to his administration’s agenda, citing investments in sports development, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities.
