The Taraba State Government has announced measures to address operational challenges confronting ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), with emphasis on improved funding, manpower, equipment and institutional efficiency across the public service.
The State Head of Service, Dr. Ahmed Kara, disclosed this in Jalingo while receiving the Taraba State Chief Executive Officers of Boards and Parastatals Forum, which presented a consolidated report on the performance, achievements and challenges of government agencies across the state.
Kara said the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas recognised the critical role of government agencies in implementing policies and programmes, assuring that the government would take steps to strengthen their capacity and improve their operating environment.
He said the state government would ensure regular release of approved running costs to government establishments, noting that predictable funding was essential for effective implementation of policies and programmes. He also announced plans for regular training and retraining of public servants, particularly Permanent Secretaries and members of the CEOs Forum.
The Head of Service, however, warned heads of boards and parastatals against recruiting casual workers outside approved procedures, stressing that employment into government establishments must comply with due process and existing regulations.
Kara further directed MDAs to advertise through state-owned media organisations and ordered government documents to be printed through the government printing press. He also directed government establishments to remit revenues generated into appropriate government accounts as part of efforts to strengthen financial discipline and accountability.
He said the challenges and requests contained in the consolidated report would be presented to Governor Kefas for consideration, adding that the government was committed to creating an environment that would enable public institutions to deliver effectively on their mandates.
Earlier, Chairman of the CEOs Forum, Dr. Garba Danjuma, said the agencies represented in the forum remained critical instruments for implementing the governor’s five-point development agenda. He said the report was prepared to give the government a comprehensive assessment of the agencies’ achievements, performance, operational challenges and support required to improve service delivery.
According to the report, several agencies recorded significant achievements, including the introduction of Electronic Medical Records and an HR-for-Health database by the Health Services Management Board.
It also said the board’s headquarters had been converted into a Situation Room, while the Primary Health Care Development Agency revitalised 113 healthcare centres and distributed ambulances, laptops and medical equipment. The Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency was also said to have recorded more than 128,000 NIN-validated enrollees under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
In education and infrastructure, the report said the Post Primary Schools Management Board sustained free education in 384 public secondary schools, while the College of Nursing and Midwifery cleared legacy debts, restored electricity and internet services and secured affiliation with Taraba State University for a Bachelor of Nursing Science programme.
It also highlighted road, drainage, culvert, water and sanitation projects across the 16 local government areas, but identified 87 per cent estimated non-revenue water loss by the Taraba State Water Supply and Sewerage Company, alongside shortages of vehicles and technical personnel, poor accommodation, obsolete equipment, weak ICT infrastructure and unreliable power supply as major challenges requiring phased procurement, timely funding, staff regularisation and facility rehabilitation.