PLATEAU State Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Arch. Samuel N. Jatau, has charged both management and technical officers of the Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) to step up their water standard through teamwork, if Plateau must maintain its ranking as tourism hub of Nigeria.
He gave the charge while declaring open a 2-day workshop on Performance Contract for Management and Statutory Board Members of Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) Monday, held at the conference hall of Kini Country Guest Inn, Akwanga in Nasarawa State.
The SGS said, “The Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has a special interest in the water sector. I think after agriculture, water resource is the next in his mind. When you look at the government’s overbearing posture on water, it means it is key to this administration.
“The best thing I can tell you as a key operator in the water sector is that you need to step up standard and give your best so that you can add value and change the water story on the Plateau. It will be to your benefit at the end of the day, because you have a very vibrant water sector as key drivers.
“I know how dear the water sector is to His Excellency and I am always surprised anytime you talk about other sectors and you do not talk about the water sector. He himself will say, what about the water sector? So, it is a very key ingredient in his work plans. And I am happy that we are doing this today”, he commended.
Jatau, however, commended the State Project Coordinator of SURWASH in the state, Jonathan Malann, for doing the state proud as he was recognised by the World Bank Country Director as the best in the country.
“For me, this capacity building workshop to get the best out of you is apt because in everything we do, we have to develop ourselves” , the SGS emphasised. “We have to keep growing and if we do not develop ourselves, we will remain stagnant and will not be adding value. So, I commend you because it is a very relevant thing that you are doing today and I am happy about it.
“We need to up our standard, if truly we want to make Plateau State a hub of tourism, if we want to make Plateau State a hub for the Middle-Belt and the best place for Nigeria. Do not forget we have the best weather and are the most hospitable people in the country. Let us keep our diversity and move together as a people so that Plateau State will move forward”, SGS enthused.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Noel Nkup, who was so passionate about fixing some of the immediate needs, assessment challenges that have hindered the possible ways to solve problems that will give Plateau people water within a week, called on the technical officers to identify those gray areas and forward for considerations.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Jos Water Services Corporation, Mrs. Stella Buge said, ” The performance contract is an important tool for setting out the objectives and targets for the board of directors and management staff. It is an essential mechanism that will guide our actions and ensure that we are working towards the common goals of the corporation and the SURWASH programme.
“This workshop therefore, will foster understanding and provide insights that will enable us to execute our roles efficiently and effectively.
“I therefore urge us all to actively engage ourselves in the discussions, share experiences and contribute to the development of a robust performance contract draft document that will drive the success of the corporation”, she advised.
The State Project Coordinator, Jonathan Malann, said the programme was called Sustainable Urban Water Supply and Hygiene Programme and it was for 6 years which started in 2022 to 2027. He said “The programme has recorded some successes and we are able to get disbursement for the pipes that we developed.
“The developed pipes were for all implementing agencies to the tune of 1.7m US-D that was accrued to the state government. So, we are here together in fulfilment of the pipes that were developed. And one of the actions that needs to be developed is the performance contract between the Board of Directors of JWSC Jos and we will come out with a draft contract agreement”, he disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Engr. Yari Satmak, tasked them to start behaving like business men and stop being just civil servants and maximise the potentials because there was a need to have a benchmark to know the value of the asset.
Also in attendance were the Commissioner of Finance, Accountant General, Permanent Secretaries, DG PLASEMA, WASH MEDIA and Labour representatives in that order.
