The Kogi State House of Assembly has promised to quickly intervene in the shortage of manpower in the State Town Planning and Development Board.
The Chairman, House Committee on Physical Planning and Rural/Energy Development, Hon. Obaro Emmanuel disclosed this on Friday shortly after the Lawmakers embarked on an oversight function to the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board.
Obaro, who is the current member representing Yagba East in the State House of Assembly, acknowledged that the ministry is currently facing some challenges which should be addressed by the government to enable the staff function effectively.
According to him, “This is one of our duties as lawmakers to checkmate the activities of ministries, department and agencies through our oversight function. Today, the ministry took us round to ascertain some of the challenges and how we could intervene.
“We are going to looking into their complain and come up with modalities to improve their working activities before the State Government will present the 2025 budget. This will enable the house see the performance of their budget in 2024, how far they have gone with it and how they have improved in revenue generation for the State.
“This will enable us look into their constraints and see how we can talk to the government so that things will be easier for them. Let it be know again that the performance of the agency budget will determine what they will get in next year budget.
“If need be, there will be a general recruitment and not only for town planning alone. It will cut across the other MDA’s. The Assembly will pass this message to the Kogi State Government on this development so that their cases can be looked into,” he said.
On the issue of encroachment by some individuals which has distorted the master plans of Kogi State, the Yagba East Lawmaker asserted that a Bill will soon be presented before the hallow chamber to look into the matter.
Explaining further, Hon. Emmanuel said “the beauty of every town lies on the planning system. The Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board are saddled with the responsibility of beautifying the town and ensuring that the laid down rules are followed in terms of planning, building and construction.
“Kogi State is well planned but unfortunately, some people are not following the law. By the Special grace of God, I will be coming up with a bill that will give the power to the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board to look into the issues of encroachment in the State so that those found culpable are penalized. The right thing must be done so that the beauty of Kogi State can be regained”.
He, however, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for embarking on massive projects across the State adding that, his commitment in consolidating the achievement of his predicessor is highly appreciated.
“We don’t want anything that will deter the town. We want Kogi State to be wearing a new look. We want something that will bring out the beauty of Kogi State and the work of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. Kogi State has grey areas where someone can relax and not something that will make our State look disorganized. We are must follow the master plans so that the beauty of the town can be seen”he added.
Earlier, the General Manager, Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, Abdullahi Yusuf lamented on the shortage of staff in the agency.
“We have shortage of staff in town planning. In Lokoja, we are just four. Across the State, we are just six as we have engaged ad-hoc Staff who we are paying N20,000 monthly despite they are graduate. The house should help us so that we can have enough Staff to do our work”.
While presenting a report to the lawmakers, Yusuf said, “the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board was established at the creation of the State by Edict No 5 of 1991 by the then Military Administrator, Col. Danladi Zakari.
“The mandate of Kogi State Town planning and Development Board is to create wealth through healthy development and maintain environmental improvement of towns and cities in Kogi State and to ensure orderly development.
“It was also envisaged that the Board would create robust revenue base to operate its activities and secure additional fund for the government, The board is therefore supposed to be positioned to actively harness effective source of internally generated revenue.
“The entire State was declared a Planning area. The Board has 25 Area Offices, 22 of which are functional within the State with a total of 78 Staff strength for the entire State, two operational vehicles and one back hole bulldozer. However, the State is experiencing a geometrical growth.
“The mandate of Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board were to create wealth through healthy development and maintain environmental improvement of Towns and Cities in Kogi State and to ensure orderly development. It was also envisaged that the Board would create robust revenue base to operate its activities and secure additional fund for government. The Board is therefore positioned to actively harness effective sources of internally generated revenue”.
The Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning and Rural/Energy Development had earlier visited zone eight, Nigeria Breweries warehouse, phase two and many more for an oversight function.
Members of the Committee observed that the Nigeria Breweries Warehouse in Phase 2 is causing obstruction to free movement of vehicles, adding that they are working outside their perimeter fencing.
The Majority Leader, Abdulrazak Suleiman, who noted that the state government is committed in planting one million trees in Lokoja, stressed that efforts are being put in place by the eight Assembly to address the issues of environmental encroachment.
He emphasized that the eight assembly will continue to make laws that will make meaningful impacts on the people of Kogi State.
Responding, the Manager of Nigeria Breweries in Lokoja, Mr Ojo Ayo assured the lawmakers that their observations will be treated urgently.
Some members of the eight Assembly that were present for the oversight function to the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, are Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani, (Lokoja l), Hon. Idrees Aliyu Maikudi, (Kogi Konton Karfe), Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak, (Okene Town), Hon. Sunday Daku, (Bassa), and Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin, (Ajaokuta).
