The Chairman of the Taskforce on the Recovery of Government Properties in Plateau State, Brigadier General Nash Yakubu (Rtd), has dispelled fears that the Taskforce is a tool for political witch-hunting or settling scores with opponents.
He emphasized that the Taskforce is purely an administrative body committed to promoting accountability in government affairs and curbing the pilfering and misappropriation of public assets. General Yakubu made this clarification during advocacy visits to various stakeholders, ministries, and agencies in the state.
The organizations visited include the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ministry of Agriculture and Jos Metropolitan Development Board, JMDB.
Speaking during the visits, General Yakubu stressed the need to preserve government properties for future generations. “What belongs to the state should remain with the state for the benefit of coming generations. If you are in possession of property that does not belong to you or lay claim to such property, we will request your documents. Our records will be checked, and if the property is confirmed to belong to the government, we will take necessary steps to recover it,” he declared.
To ensure fairness and transparency, the Chairman revealed that a mobile court will be constituted to handle cases brought before the Taskforce expeditiously. He outlined the categories of properties to be recovered, which include vehicles, lands, houses, machinery, equipment, and other government assets. However, he assured the public that “nobody will lose what is rightfully theirs.”
“Our mandate is to recover all unjustly acquired or misappropriated government properties within and outside the state. To achieve this, we are engaging with stakeholders to sensitize the public about our assignment,” General Yakubu explained.
He further announced the creation of a platform for whistleblowers, including a dedicated website, where members of the public can submit memoranda or report cases of misappropriated government properties. He assured that all submissions would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The Chairman therefore requested all the agencies visited to immediately submit all the inventories of the properties to the Taskforce for necessary action.
In their responses, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barr. Peter Gai; the General Manager of PRTVC, Mrs. Kachollom Pam; and the Commissioner 1 of SUBEB, Mrs Chundung Shom, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Samson Ishaku Bugama and General Manager of Jos Metropolitan Development Board, JMDB, Hart Bankat, commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for establishing the Taskforce. They described it as a commendable initiative to safeguard public assets.
The respective heads of organizations decried the situation whereby the common heritage of the state was being selfishly and greedily commandered by a few individuals to the detrimental of majority of the citizens.They pledged their cooperation and promised to provide the necessary information to support the Taskforce’s efforts.
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