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Governor Lalong Of Plateau State Speaks With SaharaTV On Security And Financial Challenges To His Government

In addition to the overbearing debt he inherited he said that “almost 7,000 additional State employees were added by the previous government during the transition period.” The significant number of State employees has only exacerbated the financing challenges confronting the new government.

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Governor Simon Lalong, of Plateau State, spoke exclusively with SaharaTV about the security and financial challenges facing his State.

The capital city of Plateau State, Jos, has been victimized by Boko Haram terrorist attacks in recent weeks. This week the the mastermind of the Jos and Zaria attacks was arrested in Gombe State.

Governor Lalong told SaharaTV, “[Plateau State is] introducing community policing and the neighborhood watch, because you never know who is actually Boko Haram.” Which includes him “appealing to religious leaders [in Plateau State] to attend a Peace Committee.”

He added, “we [have] also banned the use of motorcycles within the city. Most of the time [terrorists] use motorcycles to detonate the bombs, and then escape easily.”

The Governor also spoke about the dire financial health of Plateau State stating “our debt was more than N104 billion; 104 billion is what was officially written on the handing over note, but what we saw after was more than that.”

“We had to borrow money to start paying [State worker] salaries. But with the intervention of Mr. President a week ago, things are getting better,” Governor Lalong added.

In addition to the overbearing debt he inherited he said that “almost 7,000 additional State employees were added by the previous government during the transition period.” The significant number of State employees has only exacerbated the financing challenges confronting the new government.

This is Governor Lalong’s first term as the Plateau State executive; previously he was previously the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.