The Management of Plateau Express Services Limited, popularly known as Plateau Riders has appealed to the Plateau State government to rescue the company from total collapse.
General Manager of the Plateau transport company, Mr. Samuel Gwott made the appeal when he played host to members of the Plateau State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Works and Transport, led by its chairman, Hon. Nimchak Rims, at the company’s office in Jos on Monday.
Represented by the company’s Secretary, Engineer Binchen Jantur, the GM decried the dilapidated nature of the building hosting the company, noting that the structure is no longer habitable for the staff and other people.
He noted that the building hosting them was built about hundred years ago hence, the need to build a new one, as the current building cannot be renovated.
Another disturbing issue according to the GM, is the condition of most of the company’s vehicles. He disclosed that many of their vehicles are off the road and the few left cannot travel from Jos to Abuja without breaking down on the road or without any complain.
He said because many of their vehicles have broken down either as a result of accident or other faults, the company finds it difficult to pay staff salaries and to handle maintenance. Adding that they desire to have new buses for smooth runnings.
Mr. Gwott also appealed to the committee to intervene as staff of the company are not pensionable.
He took the staff round the company’s headquarters to see for themselves the pathetic condition of the structures and the many parked vehicles as the company’s mechanics were working to fix some of the buses.
The House Committee were earlier at the State Ministry of Works, where the Permanent Secretary, Engineer Beedee Bot explained how critical the ministry is to the state as it oversees infrastructure, maintenance and many other areas of development in the state.
He said the ministry has 40 ongoing road projects under civil engineering department, but some of the contractors are not on site due to some challenges like funding, high cost of materials among others.
The Commissioner of Works, Hon. Adams Bulus Legshak thanked the committee for the visit, noting that it will help them work together for the good of Plateau.
The Committee were also at the Plateau State Road Maintenance Agency and were received by the General Manager, Engineer Davou Luka who informed the committee that the raining season has slowed down their work but assured them that they would embark on aggressive work to better roads on the Plateau when the rain is over.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nimchak Rims had earlier informed management of all the places visited that their visit was to familiarize and seek synergy to serve and better the lives of Plateau State citizens.
He noted that the committee has seen and heard some of their challenges, assuring that they would look into them as legislators and seek for their cooperation to ease their work when the need arise.
Among members of the House Committee on Works and Transport that accompanied the chairman on the visit were the House majority leader, Hon. Ishaku Maren, member representing Bokkos, minority leader, Hon. Joseph Bukar, member representing Shendam and Hon. Paul Datugun, member representing Quanpan North.
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