PLATEAU DEBT PROFILE IS REDUCING: MR. ABEL GOLMUT, WRITES IN DEFENSE OF PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

With the on-going debate, on whether, Plateau State debt profile is on the rise again when compared to other states in the federation, Mr. Abel R. Golmut, in his detailed write up, dated the 16/06/2022, explained how and why the Plateau State debit profile is reducing and why it may not be classified as the worst when compared to several states like Lagos, Rivers among others.

He said it was sad to note that, “One proponent went as far as saying Plateau tops the list of 5 most indebted states”.

Mr. Abel in his write up in defense of the incumbent Simon Lalong’s Administration in Plateau State, tagged: “Rescue Administration”, he stated that, “Records from the National Debt Management Office, as regards indebtedness of some states suggest for sure that, Plateau is not in debt to the level of Lagos and some 8 other states”.

Adding that, “I will think our debt may have drastically reduced, citing the official records of the Transition Committee instituted in 2015.

“This government came onboard 2015 with a debt profile of some N223 Billion handed over to them by the mentioned of the Transition Report headed by H. E. Prof. Sonni G. Tyoden – Deputy Governor Plateau State”.

READ MR. ABEL’S WRITE UP IN FULL BELOW:-

Dear Fellow Plateaunians,

The social media for some days now has been painted with a rather unfortunate gory picture of the debt profile of Plateau State.

I have seen numbers ranging from 150, to 159 Billion Naira.

One proponent even went as far as saying that, Plateau tops the list of 5 most indebted states.

Actually with that number above, I will think our debt may have drastically reduced, citing the official records of the Transition Committee instituted 2015.

This government came onboard 2015 with a debt profile of some N223 Billion handed over to them by the mentioned of the Transition Report headed by H. E. Prof. Sonni G. Tyoden – Deputy Governor Plateau State.

Records from National Debt Management Office (NDMO), as regards indebtedness of some states suggest for sure that, Plateau is not in debt to the level of Lagos and some 8 other states:

1st – Lagos State = N658.96 Billion.

2nd – Ogun state = N232.62 billion.

3rd – Rivers State = N225.51 Billion.

4th – Akwa Ibom = N214.61 Billion

5th – IMO state = N205.19 billion.

Plateau is a distant 9th after Cross River, Delta, & Bayelsa States.

In his suggestion to the people of Plateau and the state government, Mr. Abel, he called on all to continue to check records to get the right information at all times.

“Check records to proof otherwise please”. He stated.

As a personal view concerning the trending debate, which has taken large space in the social media, especially, on platforms where Plateaunians are involved, Mr. Abel submitted this way:

“Well, I still personally think we are under borrowing, as I had once suggested, that looking at the debt to GDP ratio of Plateau State statistically standing at 7.4%, there is no cause for alarm yet! We will worry only when we start approaching 50%.

“The more reason(s) we must succumb to the intellectual disposition of the candidates to give the chance for the person with a plan to occupy Little Rayfield home and administer government on our collective behaves”.

We most elect a candidate, who will not take even an overdraft to fund any recurrent “appetite”, like salaries etc because it will combine to form a huge disaster on the long run to the generation next.

“As young persons with some content in our minds, let us be seen to be adding to healthy discourse rather than fanning crass ignorance”.