Some members of the Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday pilloried the state government for asking for approval of N10 billion loan facility. It was alleged earlier that the House had given approval to the loan facility proposed by the state government.

The Deputy Speaker and member representing Kantana constituency in the House, Yusuf Gagdi, spearheaded the revolt.

The proposal for the collection of the loan was contained in a communication sent to the House by the state Governor, Simon Bako Lalong. According to the communication by government, the proposed loan if accessed would be used by government for developmental projects in the state.

It stated that the loan, which was authorised by the National Economic Council (NEC) would be accessed from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

Speaking against the backdrop of the communication, Gagdi urged members to give assent to only matters that would bring development, recalling that the Assembly recently approved a loan of N4.5 billion which was taken by government where he alleged that there was nothing meaningful to be seen that the said loan obtained was used for.

Gagdi said that granting approval for the loan would further mortgage the future of the state and its inhabitants.

“We as legislators must operate as a people-oriented Assembly, the one that will make good laws that will better the lives of the people.

“Recently we granted approval for government to collect a loan of N9.8 billion to offset the backlog of salary arrears, agreed it was only N4.5 billion that was accesssed. Federal government also released N5.3 billion as bailout funds to the state to offset salary arrears. This is a state that commissioners and other government functionaries are yet to be appointed, and salaries were not paid. Where then are these monies taken to?”

Also commenting, member representing Mangu North East constituency, Abdul Yanga, reasoned that the Assembly was not rejecting the collection of the loan, but that a copious explanation would be needed.

According to Yanga: “If we must approve the collection of this loan, government must accompany this proposal with a clear blueprint on the projects it will be used for. We are representatives of the people, and so we must make laws that will be in the best interest of the people; anything short of that will be antagonistic.”

In the same vein, member representing Rukuba/ Irigwe constituency, Simon Kudu wondered what the government was doing with its monthly subvention that it had to always fall back to collecting loans.

He, therefore, called on the Assembly to direct the state’s accountant-general to appear before the House for a more elaborate explanation about the proposed loan.