Normal business activities collapsing in Govt offices in Taraba over unpaid N600m YEDC bill

BY CELESTINE IHEJIRIKA / JALINGO

Normal business activities in Government House Jalingo, Ministries and Parastatals have almost come to a halt over N600 million owed the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC).

To this end, several staff in Government House, Commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries now use hand made fans in their various offices due to scorching sun in the state.

It was gathered that the situation cut across all Ministries and Parastatals, a development that has generated mixed reactions among civil servants in the state.

Some workers who spoke with Daily News Nigeria Correspondent in Jalingo on condition of anonymity, wondered, “What is really going on in the state when private and commercial areas in Jalingo Metropolis have no problem with blackouts.”

A staff in one of the Ministries revealed that activities in their office have remained stagnant since the power was off, resulting in many of them to be staying under nango trees or drinking joints during working hours till closing period of 4pm.

Another staff member who also solicited animosity disclosed that the latest development has led to most of them avoiding offices but choose to remain indoors in their private residences until 4pm while another also said he has decided to use the opportunity to keep himself busy in his farm.

However, calls put across to Permanent secretaries government house Jalingo, Mr. Yaboroo to ascertain the level of things were not fruitful.

Further efforts to speak with State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara hit a brick wall as calls put across to him were declined.

At YEDC office along Barde Way close to Government House, Jalingo, the Business Manager (BM) declined to give details on the issue, saying, “i don’t have the mandate to speak on that, please wait until next week when my boss will return from his official trip,”

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.