…to monitor government projects.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
JOS: An organization, ‘Accountability Lab,’ has recently trained journalists and CSOs in Plateau State to monitor government projects, which were executed from 2017 to 2024, through the Plateau State Public Procurement Processes to see whether the contractors were able to complete the projects or abandoned them, or work is still ongoing.
Five projects were monitored by our correspondent, out of which Government Secondary School Zagun was part of, in Bassa local government areas of Plateau State, where it was a construction of new project by MESSRS JNDUST CONST &Prop Com Nig Ltd, at the cost of N87,831.011 for 2024.
The Principal of the School, Mr. Akuten Adinimil Achaka, while interacting with our correspondent, said, “As you can see, there is no new structures or building in the school; it’s the old structures, which were constructed in the 70’s and were renovated by SUBEB, in 2016/2017 and 2019.
“The Science Lab was constructed by Governor Jonah David Jang and was equipped by Adlicent Girls Child Assisted (AGILE) Plateau State.”
He added that, “The Staffs Quarters and the Administrative block was constructed by Jonah Jang in addition to the existing one that right now needs renovation, as cracks are competing with the structures and a borehole, too.
“The Computer Lab and the Solar Power were donated by AGILE Plateau State. The structures that are looking new here were projects that were carried out during the Jang Administration,” he said.
The principal further explained that, “The intention of Jang was to turn the school to a boarding school. So, for now I don’t think I have any new project going on or structures.”
Mr. Achaka noted that, “The only project that were carried out by AGILE, were only two and only Lab stocking – to stock our science equipment, science lab and computer lab.
“We don’t have any structure that is being done, whether new or old, between 2022 and 2023. Agile projects started in 2022 and elapsed in 2023,” he stated.
The school principal revealed that, “I was newly posted to the school, and reported on the 4th of June, and the hand-over note given to me don’t have any project that is new in the school so far as I am concerned.
“When I came to the school, the Agile projects have already been completed and the reports were submitted to Agile ever since my arrival.
“For hearing this, it means that GSS Zagun is in the heart of this government and pray that the project they may have an intention of bringing it to Zagun let it materialize, and we will be very happy to accept any project that will come to GSS Zagun.
“In fact, this structures that you are seeing that were done during the Jang Administration, some of them were not completed and some are being destroyed by rain and windstorm as well,” Mr Achaka said.
He appealed to government to come to their assistance to complete the projects that have not been completed, for smooth learning environment for students and for the development of the community.
When being taken round the school, our correspondent observed that, the fencing had fallen down, the Staff Quarters has serious cracks, the Admin block has not been completed and the school needs more of government attention; and there was no new projects or structures going on in the school.