The Taraba State Government has announced measures to address operational challenges confronting ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), with a commitment to improve funding, manpower, equipment and institutional efficiency across the public service.

The State Head of Service, Dr. Ahmed Kara, disclosed this in Jalingo when he received the Taraba State Chief Executive Officers of Boards and Parastatals Forum, which presented a consolidated report on the performance, achievements and challenges of government agencies across the state.

Kara said the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas recognised the critical role of government agencies in implementing policies and programmes, assuring that steps would be taken to strengthen their capacity and improve their operating environment.

The report presented by the forum highlighted achievements recorded by several agencies but identified inadequate funding, shortage of personnel and operational vehicles, poor office accommodation, obsolete equipment and unreliable power supply as major constraints to effective service delivery.

Kara assured the chief executives that the state government would ensure regular release of approved running costs to government establishments, stressing that predictable funding was essential for the effective implementation of policies and programmes.

He also announced plans for regular training and retraining of public servants, particularly Permanent Secretaries and members of the CEOs Forum, as part of efforts to enhance professionalism, efficiency and institutional performance.

The Head of Service, however, warned heads of boards and parastatals against recruiting casual workers outside approved procedures, insisting that employment into government establishments must comply with due process and existing regulations.

Kara further directed MDAs to advertise through state-owned media organisations and ordered that government documents should be printed through the government printing press. He also directed government establishments to remit revenues generated into appropriate government accounts.

He said the measures were aimed at strengthening financial discipline and accountability, adding that the challenges and requests contained in the CEOs’ consolidated report would be presented to Governor Kefas for consideration.

Earlier, Chairman of the CEOs Forum, Dr. Garba Danjuma, said the agencies represented in the forum remained critical instruments for implementing the governor’s five-point development agenda.

Danjuma said the consolidated report was prepared to provide the government with a comprehensive assessment of the agencies’ achievements, performance, operational challenges and support required to improve service delivery.

The report documented achievements in the health sector, including the introduction of Electronic Medical Records and an HR-for-Health database by the Health Services Management Board. It also stated that the board’s headquarters had been converted into a Situation Room to strengthen coordination and emergency response, while the Primary Health Care Development Agency revitalised 113 healthcare centres and distributed ambulances, laptops and medical equipment.

It further stated that the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency exceeded its second-quarter 2026 enrolment target under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, recording more than 128,000 NIN-validated enrollees. In education, the Post Primary Schools Management Board sustained free education in 384 public secondary schools, while the College of Nursing and Midwifery cleared legacy debts, restored electricity and internet services and secured affiliation with Taraba State University for a Bachelor of Nursing Science programme.

The report also highlighted road, drainage and culvert projects, alongside Water, Sanitation and Hygiene infrastructure delivered at 734 sites across the state’s 16 local government areas under the African Development Bank-supported IBSDLEIP programme.

RUWASSA was credited with supporting Karim-Lamido Local Government Area to attain Open Defecation Free status, while the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Agency rehabilitated three of its 43 small-town water stations.

However, the report raised concerns over the Taraba State Water Supply and Sewerage Company’s performance, citing an estimated 87 per cent non-revenue water loss and only 13 per cent capacity utilisation.

The CEOs also identified inadequate operational vehicles, shortages of junior and technical personnel, unresolved absorption of long-serving casual workers, poor office accommodation, dilapidated facilities, obsolete equipment, weak ICT infrastructure and unreliable electricity supply as major constraints, recommending phased procurement of vehicles, timely funding, staff regularisation and recruitment, rehabilitation of facilities and replacement of obsolete equipment to strengthen public institutions and improve service delivery across the state.