By Martha Agas
Plateau Gov. Simon Lalong has warned the newly appointed commissioners in the state against mismanagement of fund under their jurisdiction.
The governor gave the warning during the oath-taking of the seven new commissioners on Tuesday at Government House, Jos.
They were appointed to replace those who resigned to pursue their political ambitions and other endeavours.
He said that their appointment was not an avenue to make money but to serve the people through ensuring the achievements of his administration’s mandate.
“This appointment is not a promotion to self-aggrandisement or a window for corruption, mismanagement or waste of public resources.
“The resources in your custody is to carry out programmes and projects for the good of all.
“Anyone found to be working against the public interest or at cross purposes with the mandate and vision of the rescue administration will be shown the way out,” he said.
He urged the supporters of the appointees not to put them under any pressure or distract them from their responsibilities.
Lalong congratulated the appointees, saying that they were selected based on their personal achievements, pedigree and support to the All Progressives Congress Party.
He said that the commissioners should begin their duties immediately to effectively deliver the mandate and campaign promises of his administration.
The governor said that his administration would continue with its programmes and projects with focus on completing projects in various sectors which would be inaugurated within few months.
Lalong warned civil servants against sabotaging the new appointees or working against the interest of government for political or other reasons, saying that defaulters would be punished in line with the civil service rules and guidelines.
“This warning has become necessary because of the tendency for some recalcitrant civil servants to think that because an administration is coming to an end, you can sabotage it in order to curry favour from an incoming one,” he said .
He urged the appointees and their predecessors to propagate the achievements of his administration through the media as well as community and social platforms, saying that it would give them advantage during the campaigns.
He thanked the former commissioners for serving diligently and wished them best in their future endeavours.
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Prof. Benard Matur, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and assured him and Plateau people to discharge their duties diligently.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those appointed were Prof. Banerd Matur as commissioner for Higher Education, Mr Daniel Dalyop; Sports, Chief Benjamin Jang; Science and Technology, Mrs Cecilia Yilkorah; Tourism and Hospitality Development.
Others are Mr Peter Inbutuk; Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Elisha Bitrus; Environment and Mr Tehlkuk Pingwai; Lands and Survey.(NAN)
