IN view of the financial crunch confronting the state and Nigeria at large, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has decided to streamline the current 23 ministries in the state to 17.

Lalong told stakeholders yesterday during a consultative Town Hall meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Little Rayfield, Jos.

Presenting the scorecard of his achievements in the last six months, the governor said a lot has been achieved in the areas of stabilizing the polity and bringing about change from past practices. He reassured stakeholders that he was on course with the appointment of commissioners and the constitution of agencies, parastatals and institutions.

The stakeholders’ meeting had in attendance senior citizens of the state, community leaders, past and present political office holders and religious leaders from the 17 local government councils of the state. Speaking, Lalong said that the meeting was necessary in order to take stock of the government’s process on the Plateau and assured them that each local government will have a commissioner. Adding that the commissioners will be announced before the week runs out, since the process of selection has already been concluded.

According to him, “Upon assumption of office, we made it clear that our government is people oriented, and that our patriotic desire to serve is therefore anchored on the pursuit of truth and the enthronement of a governance process that shows commitment to social justice, economic progress and respect for the rule of law.”

“Our activities since assumption of office therefore, have been based on the pursuit of these ideals.

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Lalong to reduce number of ministries from 23 to 17