Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Bako Lalong, Monday disclosed that he was not resting on his oars regarding those that were indicted in his predecessor’s administration for looting the state’s treasury, adding that he had sent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after them to recover the loots.

Lalong revealed this during a media chat with journalists in the state to mark his 100 days in office as governor of the state.
While lamenting that in a manner that could best be described as naked stealing, two months salaries of local government workers were paid into an individual’s account and eventually stolen. The governor said: “We have written to the EFCC with cogent evident, and they are already investigating. The delay is now with the EFCC not us, because we have done what we should do.”
Lalong also explained why he recently demoted two permanent secretaries and retired others, saying “some permanent secretaries were wrongly appointed, not following seniority. Others have cases with anti-graft agents and were only released on bail. That’s the reason we retired some and demoted others.”

The governor, who also said he was opened to constructive criticism, noted that he was wrongly reported by a section of the media especially on the loan he obtained from the bank, noting that the loan he obtained from the bank to pay salaries was N4.5 billion against the N10 billion that was wrongly reported by the media.

He said: “All we have done is within the limited of the resources that we got. The only loan we got from bank was N4.5 billion; we were promised another N5 billion, but it was withdrawn when they heard about bail out.”

He said five months outstanding salaries had been paid to workers, while various developmental projects had been embarked upon, including clearing of refuse and filling of potholes in Jos/Bukuru metropolis, and construction of new roads.
On security, Lalong was optimistic that peace would soon return to the restive Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas with the peace-building efforts he has make so far.

“We have sat with both the Fulani and the Berom, and suggestions were made, and now we are finding solution to the crisis. In the last two weeks the committee I set up on the peace process has resumed sitting after an initial interruption; they are now doing very well.

“I have had to go to the president up to five times over the security situation on the Plateau. If the situation does not improve, we would plead with him to treat us like the North east. But I am optimistic that with the effort we have put in the situation will improve very soon.”

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Lalong: EFFC has already started pursuing cases against key principals of the past adminstration