Governor Lalong, Jang Trade Words Over N104 Billion Plateau’s Debt

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News From The State, Politics Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015

Agabus Pwanagba, Jos – Less than a week he left office, the immediate past Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang has denied allegations by the new administration in the State, that he left a debt of N104 billion, contending debt left by his government is N18 billion.

This denial was contained in a press statement issued Wednesday, by his Assistant, Clinton Garuba, and made available to AFRICANEXAMINER in Jos, the State’s capital.

The statement reads, “The attention of the immediate past Governor of Plateau State and Senator Elect, Dr. Jonah David Jang has been drawn to a story making the rounds to the effect that he left the State with a debt profile of N104bn.

“While it is true that in the handover notes given to the new administration, the debt profile made available to newsmen, pointed out that the Jang’s administration did not borrow N104bn as is being insinuated in some quarters.

“The immediate past government only borrowed an external debt of about N18bn with evidence of several developmental projects to show for it. The balance of the said N104bn spreads across contractual agreements for ongoing projects and those approved but not yet mobilized and outstanding of 6 months salaries of civil servants”.

The statement also added: “Dr. Jonah David Jang is committed to the development of Plateau State beyond individualism and party affiliations and has therefore committed to work with the Lalong’s administration in the task of moving Plateau in order for the state to take its place of pride in the comity of States in Nigeria”.

“It is his desire that the current administration does well for the people of Plateau State and is pledging his support to the Government in order for it to surpass the modest achievements of the last administration in the State “.

“It is in realization of this that we advise Simon Lalong to focus less on trivialities and focus more on improving on our modest achievements while correcting our perceived mistakes because at the end of your administration, Plateau people will not judge him on the number of accusations and counter accusations but on the extent to which he has met their yearnings and aspirations through the number of developmental projects that directly affect their lives “.

It would be recalled that yesterday (Tuesday) Governor Lalong alleged that his predecessor, left a total of 104billion debt in his handover note.

Lalong made the disclosure while addressing Judiciary workers led by the chief Judge of the State, Justice Pius Damulak who had visited him at the Presidential Lodge old Government House, Rayfield in Jos.

According to Lalong he found no dime in the State’s treasury as Jang left debt of N104 billion including the non-payment of seven Months workers’ salaries as well as the pensioners in the state.