WE SHOULD PARTNER FOR THE GOOD OF PLATEAU- WALLANGKO

WE SHOULD PARTNER FOR THE GOOD OF PLATEAU- WALLANGKO

...WE MAY NOT MEET DIRECT LINK INDICATORS OF WORLD BANK AND SIFTAS.

By Justin Jattim 

Hon Sylvester Wallangko, the Plateau Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning has said,"We should partner for the good of Plateau". He made the call when the newly elected Executive Council and members of the Plateau Publishers Association (PPA) led by its indefatigable and visionary Chairman,Chief Amb Nanyah Andrew Daman (JP),Jarumin Jat and the Group Managing Editor of the famous NewsGate Magazine paid a courtesy call and had a media parely with the Plateau State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning at Cabinet Office, Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat on Thursday 21st April 2022 with his management team in attendance.

Wallangko also expressed fears on whether or not the Ministry will be able to meet up the 2022 Direct Link Indicators (DLIs) of the World Bank and SIFTAS as the activities leading to the assessment have been stalled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Speaking further on the value of the PPA, Chief Wallangko said we are partner's in progress, thus, we should continue to partner for the good of Plateau State because without the Media, we wouldn't be informed of what is happening in Government. 

He admonished the Media to be friendly and fair to Government in the discharge of their onerous duties of educating, informing and entertaining the general public. As indigenous publishers,the Commissioner continued, people would want to hear from you the true situation of things, hence your great importance in the state, country and the world at large.

The ever smiling Commissioner of Budget also advised the PPA not to use it's outfits to wage war against the Plateau State Government as it will be counter productive and not good.

Speaking on the role of his Ministry in the socio-economic development of the state, the Commissioner hinted that they are the gateway to Ministries, Departments and Agencies with the people and government in the provision of social services via budget planning, drafting, making and execution. He said they are the source of the much talked about dividends of democracy.

Wallangko advised that "there should be no crisis amongst you as publishers, this is an appeal, that you create peace with other media organisations not under the PPA to become one, especially the breakaway fraction of the PPA".

The Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning used the opportunity of the visit to heartily congratulate the PPA Exco on their emergence as the new leadership ably led by Chief Amb Nanyah A Daman, a reliable friend whom he knew over twenty years ago to be hardworking, industrious and firm. He urged for the promotion of the objective of the association and wished the Exco well in their future endeavours.

Hon Sylvester Wallangko in the media parely,tasked the PPA to continue to partner with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning by dialoguing on issues that are beneficial to the people of Plateau State. He advised the media to always authenticate stories before going to press as well as say no to any form of distraction.

On the question about the commencement of the usage of the 2022 budget, the Commissioner said it commenced on January 1st 2022 which led to the construction of the British- America Junction flyover bridge. He asked the people of the state to pray for the success of the Governor Simon Bako Lalong KSSG administration against the distraction from the opposition political parties and people with dissenting voices. He said by the Grace of God, the Lalong Legacy projects will be commissioned before the end of his tenure.

Speaking on his political ambition, he said it is purely personal and based on his ability to carry out responsibilities as at when due. He said he never creates time limit on anything as the activities of his ministry are time bound but there is continuity of activities.

Earlier, the leader of the PPA delegation to the Ministry, Chief Daman said the PPA has a twenty five member association desirous of true partnership to report activities of the Ministry as well as advertise their goodwill messages at a cost considering the inflation in the country. The publisher of NewsGate Magazine and the Chairman of the PPA, described by many as the mentor of mentors in the  publishing industry in Plateau State informed the Ministry that the PPA is the only registered Publishers Association in Plateau State to do business as other publishers are fake publishers and journalists spewing lies in order to get their attention and fleece the Ministry of hard earned resources through dubious means.

Daman read out the list of the 25 authentic publishers on the Plateau to the admiration of all present who agreed that these were the well known publishers of print and online bloggers in the state worthy of doing business with.

Hon Shedrach Fomwul, Commissioner with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning gave the vote of thanks promising to work with the authentic publishers.

Mrs Martha Arin,Director of Administration and others were present whilst Pastor Bok Daniels Dung,Vice Chairman of PPA prayed to God Almighty for the success of Hon Sylvester Wallangko in all future endeavours.