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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has suspended the implementation of a World Bank project amidst protests from a cross section of citizens of the state.
The suspension of the execution of the projects, according to the governor, is to achieve equity and restore sanity and spread in the siting of World Bank projects on the Plateau.
In a circular dated August 8, personally signed by him and addressed to World Bank project coordinators, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent in Jos, the governor said, “In a bid to sanitise, regulate and occasion efficiency into the projects being executed in the state and to entrench accountability, hereby direct as follows:
“That all ongoing processes relative to contracts, recruitments and procurements are hereby suspended with immediate effect until directed otherwise.
” You must seek and obtain a written approval fromme through the office of the secretary to the government of the state.
However the directive has drawn severe criticisms from netizens, who expressed fears that the world body may withdraw its funding of projects in the state.
In a Facebook post on Plateau Governorship Debate 2022 Polls Page, one of the citizens who responded as Tech_Know_Crat Media, said the directive could jeopardize multi-million naira projects in the state.
The post said, “The Plateau state government has issued a circular that goes against the terms and conditions of the World Bank, which could jeopardize millions of naira in projects.
“The circular gives the state government sweeping powers over the implementation of World Bank-funded projects, including the authority to approve contracts and make changes to project designs.
“The World Bank has strict rules against political interference in its projects, and the Plateau State government’s circular could violate these rules. If the World Bank finds that the state government has interfered in its projects, it could terminate the projects or suspend funding. In the worst case, the World Bank could blacklist Plateau State from future funding.
The poster described the state government’s circular as a major setback for the state’s development as the state is currently receiving millions of naira in World Bank funding for projects in education, health, and agriculture. If the World Bank terminates or suspends funding for these projects, it will have a devastating impact on the state’s economy and its people.
“The Plateau State government needs to withdraw its circular immediately and comply with the terms and conditions of the World Bank. Otherwise, the state risks losing out on millions of naira in much-needed development funds, the post added.
Another netizen. Dashiwe Gobum, urged caution from the government.
He said, “Why all the rush? The govt should settle down and study the ongoing projects under the World Bank conditions applicable to underscore the success or failure of such projects.”
However the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere, said the directive to project coordinators was well intended to ensure that every part of the state benefits from the projects.
He said, “The governor is acting with good intentions because such projects are not free but funded with loans that must be repaid. So the governor is conscious of where such projects are to be sited so as to achieve spread and ensure that such projects were executed in areas of needs.”
