…Seeks intervention from RMAFC
From Jude Dangwam
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang,has called on the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission( RMAFC) to give consideration to the agricultural sector and infrastructural needs of the state due to the recent crisis that has ravaged the state.
The Governor disclosed that some schools have been taken over by bandits,thereby denying children from attending classes in recent times.
According to him, the attacks by bandits have affected the agricultural output of the state and its contributions to national GDP.
Mutfwang stated this when he received a delegation from the Commission’s Committee on Indices led by Hajiya Salamatu Mohammed Bala the Commissioner representing Adamawa State.
He noted that if there was a time the state needed assistance from the commission,”it is now as the recent crisis has inadvertently destabilised the state in several ways by missing almost 50% of last season’s farming opportunity.
“As a matter of fact, our contribution to national GDP has been greatly reduced by this crisis because we missed almost 50% of last season’s farming opportunity because of the crisis.
“And it’s not just about food security for our people, it is our contribution to the national food basket that is important. And so you need to look at this dispassionately, apart from that, there are other fallouts.
“There are schools that have been taken over by bandits, which means that the children who should have access to education through those schools can no longer go to schools.
“Health facilities have been damaged in the areas where this crisis has occurred. It means therefore, that our Primary Health care infrastructure needs to be rebuilt.” He stated
Governor Mutfwang further explained that the state has suffered from years of neglect which has annually added to infrastructural needs of the state affecting the accessibility of certain areas by the security agencies.
“And if we do not have the requisite funds, we can’t open up the rural areas. And so this becomes very important for us. Agriculture for us is the nerve centre of our lives in plateau.
“Apart from the destruction of infrastructure, the stabilisation of people from their farm lands, we need to aggressively contribute to the national food basket and probably export.” He noted
The leader of the delegation from the Commission, Mohammed Bala earlier on said the committee was in the state to assess Indices on ground in other to make recommendations to the commission as well as the President on what Plateau State should have from the Stabilization Fund.
According to Bala:”The committee is here to verify what was requested of the State government. We are on the last stages of this work; after this, the team will go and then also present what we have seen to the Committee of Indices and Disbursement.
“And when we do that, we recommend to the whole commission what we think Plateau State deserves to get from the stabilisation Fund.
“We now transmit the letter to the President stating our own assessment of the situation and what we think you should get.” She explained
Bala reassured the readiness of the committee to be fair and just to the state by working inline with the code of practice by presenting the issues as seen.
“We don’t follow up with any state for the purpose of not showing our interest in the matter we know.” She stated