THE Plateau State Finance Commissioner, Hon. Dongkum, Grace Shwarta, says the Governor Mutfwang led administration has not only cleared all backlog of salaries left behind, but has paid up-to-date salaries and pensions to the month of October 2023.
She cleared air while in an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD recently in Jos, the state capital, following speculations making the rounds in some quarters that October salaries were not yet paid to Plateau civil servants.
The commissioner said, “I want to state clearly here that Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration is an administration that values human resource. When he came, he met a huge backlog of salaries, pensions and the workers were on strike for that reason.
” February salary was not fully paid because there were more than 80% of unpaid salaries in February. So, from March upward, there were no salaries. But I am glad to tell you that this government has cleared the entire backlog of salaries and pensions.
“As at last weekend, salary for the month of October was paid. You know, the salaries come in batches. For us the appointees, they say we are the parents and so, ours came in last, but I can tell you that I have received my October salary in October.
“So, we are up-to-date in payment of salaries and pensions. If there is someone who is yet to receive his October salary, well, we are yet to receive that complaint from any Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA)”, Dongkum cleared the air.
She, however, expressed concern that deductions were made from Cooperative Societies, Agencies and Taxes in the past, but there were no remittances. Pointing out that “those complaints came up, but we were able to sit down and sort out all of that and it is a plus to this administration.
“That tells you that if there was nothing else that we have, we are proud to have a leader who knows where he is going to and where he is coming from, for the betterment of Plateau State citizens.
“So, if you are unable to say your achievement, somebody out there will downplay it and say other things that cover whatever you have achieved. That is why we are collaborating with you, the media for you to project what we are doing”, the Commissioner enthused.
Hon. Grace Shwarta Dongkum, however, expressed joy that two additional heads of trains have been procured by Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration as part of measures to help cushion the transport problems of citizens in spite of negative stories surrounding it.
