Lalong’ll sustain payment of public servants, pensioners, says commissioner

 Kolade Adeyemi, Jos

PLATEAU Commissioner of Information and Communication, Hon. Dan Manjang, has expressed strong commitment of the Governor Simon Lalong’s administration to continue with payment of salaries of civil servants, pensioners and other emoluments to boost the economy of the state.

He noted that the Lalong’s government has prioritised payment of salary and pensions since it came on board in 2015 to make life easier for Plateau people.

Hon. Manjang disclosed this on Friday in Jos during an interview with journalists and said the state was ready for the implementation of the new minimum wage when the global Covid19 pandemic emerged.

“When we talk about payment of salary, some people say it is not achievement and I ask, if payment of salary is not an achievement, what is lack of payment of salary that was witness during the previous administration?

“The minimum resources that circulate in Plateau every month are between N2billion and N2.5 billion as emoluments of civil servants and pensioners and that has boosted and sustained the economy of the state.

“We have continued to pay salary as at when due, including the 7-9 months of salary arrears inherited from the previous administration. We were about to pay the new minimum wage when Covid19 pandemic broke out. We suspended it in collaboration with labour and we will resume when the situation improves.”

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Manjang explained that the spike in Covid-19 infection in the state is as a result of high level of testing, particularly at the community level.

“There is increase in community testing for the disease as Plateau State has three testing centres; one at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau Specialist Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital.”

He noted that Governor Lalong directed all civil servants in the state to embark on compulsory Covid-19 test, which most communities in the state, including communities under Vwang District took part in as directed by their traditional rulers, which gave rise to the figure in the state.