OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO.
The Executive Chairman of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State Hon. Abubakar Sadiq has given kudos to the state Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas for releasing funds the council expended in the renovation of the administrative block and offices of the local government Secretariat that were dilapidated over the years.
Sadiq, who addressed Reporters in his Jalingo residence said, on assumption of office as the Executive Chairman of the council, he discovered that the environment was not conducive to accommodate the staff of the council.
He said the scenerio prompted about 85% of staff posted to the local government, to force themselves back to Jalingo the State capital.
“Office accommodation for the management staff was nothing to write home about, administrative block, office of the Executive Chairman, finance, health, social departments, gate and/or the entrance of the Secretariat, local government guest house were all dilapidated”, he said.
When he took the matter before the Governor Kefas, he quickly intervened and released some funds.
“As the funds were released by the Governor, I swung into action to address the grey areas that needed to be addressed”,
“If you visit Mutum Biyu, the administrative headquarters of Gassol Local Government now, you will observe that the place is wearing a new look, though work is still on going and I give kudos to Governor Agbu Kefas”,
“Apart from the above mentioned, we identified some clinics that have been dilapidated for donkey years, they are now under renovation. Badiya clinic in Gassol ward, dilapidated for the past 17 years is under renovation, Jauro Baba Clinic dilapidated for the past 15 years is now under renovation.
“We are renovating Kwarrarafa market in Dan Anacha, renovating Grain market in Mutun Biyu, we are going to renovate cattle market at Tella”, the chairman stated.
The council chairman who added that the local government Secretariat at Mutum Biyu, constructed since 1999 was dilapidated and no renovation taken place till date.
Describing himself as the youngest Chairman in the State, Sadiq added that Gassol was the only local government that has 12 Wards and the most populated.
He said his mission is to bring the necessary change the people will be proud of, especially Governor Kefas. He wants to leave behind a befitting office that will stand the test of time adding that whosoever that will take over from him will have no reason to complain of poor office accommodation.