Plateau Government says it has set up a committee to eject illegal occupants of its facilities.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Musa Ashoms, disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after the state executive council meeting presided over by Gov. Caleb Mutfwang on Tuesday at Government House, Jos.
Ashoms said that the action followed directive of the governor that all illegal occupants at temporary site of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) should vacate the premises to enable government to use the facility.
He said that government would use the premises as a temporary site for the take-off of the National Orthopedic Hospital in Jos before its relocation to the permanent site at Maraban Jama’a.
In 2021, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of an orthopedic hospital in Jos as an affiliate of JUTH, which is to serve Plateau and the North Central zone in providing specialised orthopedic treatment to the people.
The Commissioner added that the committee would also eject illegal occupants in Plateau hospital and other government facilities.
“It is not just in old JUTH that you have illegal tenants, if you go to Plateau hotel you will find people taking rent on behalf of the government illegally. The team put by government will address all these illegalities,” he said.
He said that the Federal Medical Centre, Wase, which was also approved by the past administration would take off its services temporarily at the Cottage hospital located in Wase Local Government Area before relocating to its permanent site at one of the legacy projects in the area.
Ashoms said that the council also gave approval for the state tender board to award contracts for the purchase of vehicles for government functionaries, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, security agencies as well as its general operational uses.
Also speaking at the briefing, Dr Cletus Shurkuk, the state’s Commissioner for Heath, said the take-off of health facilities in Plateau was a good development that would improve access to quality health care services by the people in the state and the northern region.
