Plateau State Sets New Development Milestones, Promises Continued Progress at the end of Ministerial Press Briefing

The Plateau State Government has concluded its ministerial press briefings, with various ministries presenting detailed reports of their achievements. The event, held at the J.D. Gomwalk Secretariat in Jos, drew attention to the strides made across different sectors in the past months.

The briefings served as a platform for commissioners and top officials to highlight developmental achievements, policy implementations, and impact-driven initiatives.

The Plateau State Ministry of Finance, led by Hon. Mrs. Dongkum Grace Shwarta, has made impressive progress since 2023. A major milestone was clearing over ₦14 billion in backlog payments, including salaries, pensions, and third-party deductions.

The Ministry saved ₦500 million through a thorough payroll verification process. This initiative helped streamline government spending and promote financial discipline.

To strengthen tertiary education, ₦2 billion was released to secure accreditation for courses across Plateau State’s higher institutions.

Health workers received a 75% hazard allowance, while the new minimum wage was implemented promptly to support civil servants.

To cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, ₦12,000 monthly palliatives were paid to workers, pensioners, and appointees, totaling ₦1.6 billion.

The government also raised the minimum pension from ₦5,188 to ₦20,000 and increased the monthly pay of street cleaners to ₦16,000.

“We have been looking at how we can partner with pension companies and other interested stakeholders to ensure that we clear all the outstanding,” said Hon. Shwarta. “Many signed projects were delayed due to unpaid counterpart funding when this administration came in.”

The Ministry of Higher Education, under Dr. Mrs. Kachallom Pyam Gang, secured full accreditation for all tertiary institutions in the state, thanks to the support of Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Over ₦1.5 billion was invested into Plateau State University, the Polytechnic, College of Education, and College of Nursing and Midwifery to improve quality and infrastructure.

Nineteen new degree programs were approved for the College of Education, Gindiri, while a 150-capacity conference center and two-story administrative building were initiated at Plateau State University and the Polytechnic respectively.

“We have also been able to renovate the Polytechnic clinic into a medical center, which now serves staff, students, and the HIPAA community,” said Dr. Gang.

The Ministry of Agriculture, led by Hon. Bugama Samson Ishaku, cultivated 6,000 hectares of farmland in 2023 and aims to increase this to 50,000 hectares in 2024 to restore livelihoods affected by crises.

Support from ASTC and other partners facilitated the use of mechanized farming, improved seedlings for maize and potatoes, and successful wheat and barley trials in Riyom and Bokkos.

To reduce middlemen exploitation, the state established Plakon, a commodity company. “Plakon began lopping up last year,” Hon. Ishaku said. “This year, we’re fixing stalls for direct off-taking during harvest.”

The Ministry of Livestock Development, led by Dr. Sunday Akpa, launched Nigeria’s first modern livestock village in Plateau State, a milestone project supported by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry also vaccinated 140,000 cattle, 50,000 sheep and goats, and 4.5 million local chickens. A new veterinary clinic was opened on Niangulu Road to boost animal health services.

The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, under Hon. Adams Bulus Lekshak, developed the state’s first Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, aligning with national economic goals.

It coordinated over 43 donor-funded projects, organized town halls in all three senatorial zones, published the 2025 budget online, and supported nutrition programs and school feeding in partnership with UNICEF and HELLO International.

Hon. Bashir Datti Lawandi, Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, highlighted the passage of the Plateau State Water Users Association Bill.
The bill enabled Plateau to join the Sustainable Performance for Improved
WASH in Nigeria (SPIN) program.

He noted partnerships with Prime Power and the International Energy Agency (IEA) to scale renewable energy and mini-grids.
“We improved annual water production to over 8 million… increased customer connections and improved water testing,” said a representative on his behalf.
Over ₦1 billion was spent on water treatment chemicals, and 140 new staff were recruited.

Revenue collection rose from ₦68 million to ₦112 million, and solar-grid projects in rural areas have improved lives of 89,000 residents.

With these detailed reports, the Mutfwang-led administration has shown a commitment to purposeful leadership. The ministerial briefings not only showcased progress but also set a tone of openness and responsibility—promising a brighter, better Plateau for all.