BY OUR REPORTER.
Concerns are growing among staff and stakeholders of the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP) over recent developments they fear could undermine the agency’s effectiveness in delivering agricultural extension services across Plateau State.
At the centre of the concerns is a recent court judgment involving subscribers to the PADP Tractor Programme. According to staff members familiar with the matter, the court awarded ₦2.5 million in damages, a figure they say was confirmed by the legal counsel handling the case during a management meeting. They have, however, expressed concern over reports suggesting that a liability of ₦50 million may be presented to government authorities, calling for an independent verification of the judgment to ensure the facts are accurately represented.
Another issue raising concern is the reported plan to transfer a significant number of PADP personnel to other government agencies and programmes. While some officials have reportedly argued that the agency has an oversized workforce, employees maintain that PADP’s staffing structure aligns with its statutory mandate to provide agricultural extension services. They further contend that, based on the recommended extension worker-to-farmer ratio, the agency may already be operating below its optimal staffing level.
The suspension of the Programme Manager, Mr Ishaku Jilemsam, has also generated debate within the organisation. Staff members argue that consultants involved in the tractor programme acknowledged receiving the funds in question and submitted a repayment plan. They therefore maintain that there is no evidence directly linking the Programme Manager to the alleged mismanagement of the tractor equity funds and have urged that any administrative or disciplinary action be guided by verified evidence and due process.
The developments have reportedly created uncertainty among employees, who fear that the ongoing disputes and proposed restructuring could weaken PADP’s institutional capacity and reduce its ability to effectively support farmers and enhance agricultural productivity across the state.
Some members of staff also allege that political considerations may have contributed to the tensions within the organisation. They claim that after declining to support a particular political interest and affirming their loyalty to the state government, they became targets of efforts to weaken the Programme. Among those mentioned in the allegations are the Director of Administration of PADP, the Commissioner for Agriculture, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Programme Coordinator of NG-CARES.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and as of the time of filing this report, the officials named had not publicly responded to the claims.
Concerned stakeholders have called on the Plateau State Government to undertake a transparent and impartial review of the issues surrounding the tractor programme and the recent administrative decisions affecting PADP. They urged the government to safeguard the institution’s integrity, strengthen its operational capacity, and ensure it continues to fulfil its mandate to support farmers and advance agricultural development across Plateau State.
