Abuja – Plateau Gov. Simon Lalong on Friday restated that commission of inquiry on the state’s finances was not to witch hunt but to put the records its debt profile straight.
He stated this while addressing State House correspondents after visiting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governor said that he inherited a debt of N220 billion, unpaid salaries and poor infrastructure, which the former administration denied.
“There was no way that we could come and see what we saw on the plateau and still leave them without clarification
“The first one was that when I said that I inherited a debt of N220 billion, the former governor said `no’, that what I got was only N18 billion.
“I also spoke about projects and salaries that I inherited and he said `no’.
“But, what I did was first of all to concentrate on doing my best so that I will not lose focus; now we are able to pay our salaries in the state,’’ he said.
Lalong said that he cleared the salary arrears in order to make the citizens happy and to focus on development of the state.
“Now that the people are happy, I initiated the commission of enquiry because what I got from the transition committee was really alarming.
“For me to say that I will ignore it is going to be at the peril of my people,’’ he stated.
He said that the enquiry was to put the record straight so that the debt would not hunt his administration after office.
The governor said that the judicial commission would compare what was inherited and what the past administration claimed it left and make clarifications.
According to him, after the clarification, the administration will send the report to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
He also denied that his state was confused about whether to have grazing reserve or ranches for cattle breeders.
He said that he was in support of ranching whereas there was a gazette from his predecessor on grazing reserve and route.
He said the gazette was only there to create confusion.
“I knew the advantage of ranching policy so I took my people on sensitization right from the youth to traditional rulers to religious leaders and we concluded with National Assembly members.
“And, all accepted that we should adopt the ranching policy.
“As far as Plateau state is concerned, we are into the ranching policy; if you see anybody talking about grazing reserve, it is not in my state,’’ he stated.
Lalong also said that he inherited a state that was dead in education and because of the premium he placed on education, he looked back in order to revive the sector.
He disclosed that schools were not in session for 11 months before he took over because teachers were no longer going to school due to lack of salaries.
“In terms of rating, Plateau state was last every year in the General Certificate of Education (GCE), if they had the privilege of writing GCE at all.
“When I came in, I started paying the arrears of teachers’ salaries and they resumed while I overhauled the State Primary Education Board (SUPEB), renovated the schools and put structures in place.
“Within the first year of my being in office, Plateau has risen from 34th of 35th position in rating to about 20th, even without putting all the infrastructure.’’
The governor also said that he recruited no fewer than 4,000 teachers to beef up education for the people.
“In the next one year, we will see a difference because I am still pursuing the rating.
“Plateau used to be number two or number three but why should we go to number 34 or number 35 in the whole of the state rating?
“With my coming we have gone to 22nd position; very soon, by the time we get to next academic year you will see the rating of Plateau state for the improvement of education.
“To do that, I did not leave education at the tertiary level because I went beyond that at primary and secondary levels.’’ (NAN)