By Isaac Ukpoju
Umaru Tanko Al-makura,Governor of Nasarawa state A
By Isaac Ukpoju
The Nasarawa state government has awarded contracts to the tune of N700 million for the construction culverts across the state, to curb erosion.
Gov. Umaru Al-Makura disclosed this while swearing-in three new Permanent Secretaries on Tuesday in Lafia.
He said five culverts each would be constructed across the 14 local government areas and 18 development areas in the state, before the rains set in.
The governor said all the contracts awarded to indigenous contractors had a timeline of 45 days, to ensure their completion before the coming rainy season.
Al-Makura also stated that government has concluded plans to reconstruct all Primary Health Care Centres (PHC) and other public facilities destroyed during the various communal clashes in the state.
He said contractors have been short listed and that very soon, the jobs would be awarded.
The governor stated that the appointment of the Permanent Secretaries became necessary following the retirement of some others from the state civil service.
As stated by Al-Makura, the appointment of the new permanent secretaries was based on competence and bureaucracy, rather than political patronage.
He pointed out that his administration had never appointed any permanent secretary outside the civil service.
The governor said the decision was aimed at protecting the sanctity of the bureaucracy and to encourage hardwork amongst civil servants.
Al-Makura also ordered for the immediate suspension of local government workers transferring their services to the state government, so as to make room for professionalism and effective service delivery.
He urged the new appointees to exercise due diligence, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Mr Thomas Ogiri, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state.
He assured the state government of their unalloyed commitment and support towards the actualisation of government policies and programmes. (