‘The quality of a job lies in its completion’. This is a loose translation of a Hausa proverb. Shortly after the award of contracts for the construction and expansion of nine roads in 2013, Governor Jonah Jang announced that all projects would be completed before the expiration of his tenure in 2015. His words were swiftly followed with massive construction activity on notable roads involved in the metropolis. Hopefully, with the completion of these road projects, his excellency would further confirm himself as “the Governor of roads” or “Roadmaster” as he is sometimes referred.

Now with less than fourteen months to the end of his tenure, the Governor has approved and awarded a mammoth contract for the building of 3,000 residential houses for citizens of the State, supposedly in an effort to actualize the greater Jos masterplan. According to the Punch Newspaper of 9th January, 2014, the contract was awarded to ABC shelters Nig. Limited. There is no denying the fact that the course is a noble one but the timing, location and manner of award for the contract raise glaring doubts regarding Government’s sincerity and commitment.

‘The quality of a job lies in its completion’. This is a loose translation of a Hausa proverb. Shortly after the award of contracts for the construction and expansion of nine roads in 2013, Governor Jonah Jang announced that all projects would be completed before the expiration of his tenure in 2015. His words were swiftly followed with massive construction activity on notable roads involved in the metropolis. Hopefully, with the completion of these road projects, his excellency would further confirm himself as “the Governor of roads” or “Roadmaster” as he is sometimes referred.

Now with less than fourteen months to the end of his tenure, the Governor has approved and awarded a mammoth contract for the building of 3,000 residential houses for citizens of the State, supposedly in an effort to actualize the greater Jos masterplan. According to the Punch Newspaper of 9th January, 2014, the contract was awarded to ABC shelters Nig. Limited. There is no denying the fact that the course is a noble one but the timing, location and manner of award for the contract raise glaring doubts regarding Government’s sincerity and commitment.

This is a project that should have been awarded in the first four years of this administration, it still would have made sense in the beginning of the second four years of this administration but building a 3,000 residential housing estate by one company alone leaves much to be desired in view of the fact some of the grandiose projects were unable to be completed within stipulated period. For example, the N4.4 billion new, but dispensable, Government House project is yet to be completed in spite of the enormous pressure exerted on the project. The advisers’ complex is still uninhabited and some road contracts like the Pankshin-Lankan road awarded since the first tenure have still not attained 80% completion, not to mention the NYSC Orientation Camp which is still being built after appearing more than two times in annual budgets and its cost being reviewed upwards. The big question is, What is the guarantee the Government can complete the construction of 3,000 houses in less than one and half years when it could not complete much lesser estates in four years? Reasonable taxpayers should expect a lot more sincerity from the Government which they have empowered with their votes and their money. This is a gigantic project that could well involve 30 contractors but Mr. Ezekiel Uzochukwu, General Manager of ABC Shelters, has it all on his palms. Thirty billion Naira is no chicken change, even Aliko Dangote would agree wit me on that.

It was also stated that the 3,000 house would be built along Mararaban Jama’a axis of Jos South Local Government. Ofcourse we understand that it is a move to expand the Jos urban community but what is not understood however, is the unwritten rule that says the 3,000 houses must be built in a single location. In the ’80s, State Lowcost Housing estates were built in all Local Government Areas of the State and to a large extent have alleviated the plight of housing in the State. In the same vein, Federal Lowcost Housing estates were built in almost all old Local Government Areas of the State. Housing is not an issue that must be restricted to one Local Government alone. A simple share of 500 houses for each of the other two Senatorial zones would help in no small measure.

Thirty billion Naira could have been channeled to assuage youth underemployment on the Plateau. More than fifteen Thousand youths have applied for positions in Ministries and State owned institutions but are being kept on hold. The hunting of ‘ghost workers’ has even led to the creation of more vacancies within the State MDAs but in its assumed ingenuity, The State has prioritized the building of Houses over youth employment, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to us if Plateau maintains its position or goes lower than the position of the 6th poorest State in Nigeria according to a report published in 2012. The thousands of Graduates that spent N1000 to purchase employment forms for vacancies in State tertiary institutions are still waiting to be interviewed, or offered employment. However, if the Government deems it fit that the 7000 temporary jobs (mostly menial) that would be created by the construction of 3000 houses is more important than the staff they need in our institutions, then so be it.

In as much as doubts and fears of citizens of Plateau far outweighs their trust in the Government of the State, there yet might be a flicker of Hope that the project might be completed, perhaps in that regard, we might say ‘something is better than nothing’.

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N30 BILLION FOR 3,000 HOUSES? PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE MORE SINCERE