By Blessing Odega
The Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (PLASEMA) has trained Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in the 17 local governments of the state on disaster preparedness and management.
PLASEMA Executive Secretary (ES), Mr Sunday Abdu, said that the training of LEMCs marks a pivotal moment of stakeholders’ collective commitment to securing the lives and livelihoods of the people.
Abdu said on Friday in Jos that the initiative was a direct fulfillment of the visionary mandate of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang in caring for the people.
The ES said that the inauguration and training of the LEMCs was to cascade the critical structure down to the grassroots, as effective emergency preparedness began and ends with communities.
He said that training was to equip them with the tools to implement the governor’s vision and solicited their sustained and better support.
According to him, the LEMC structure would only thrive if it is fully integrated into the local government administration, budgeting, and operations.
“We are not just holding a workshop; we are laying the foundational brick for a truly decentralised and efficient disaster response system.
“We are honoured by the presence of our revered traditional leaders. Your wisdom, counsel, and influence are indispensable in promoting peace and ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
“Thank you for lending your prestige to this vital exercise, to the deputy chairmen and our designated chairmen of the LEMCs, we appreciate you for accepting the responsibility.
“Your immediate efforts, drive, and dedication in mobilising resources and ensuring representation here today are deeply appreciated.
“You are the critical link between state policy and grassroots action. I must also recognise the staff who make safety possible: our Director of Socials, Information Officers, and Welfare Officers,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PLASEMA Director of Administration, Mr Chuwanng Sha, and other facilitators exposed the participants to the ‘Structure of LEMCs, Roles of Local Government Staff in LEMC Operations and Dashboard Management’.
Sha said that both the council staff and the local emergency management committee were key stakeholders & partners in progress in emergency response efforts.
The director said that they both played a critical role in ensuring effective emergency management at the local level, and their operations are essential for protecting lives, property, and the community.
“The local emergency management committee provides strategic direction and coordination, while local government council staff may provide operational support,” he added.
NAN also reports that the participants were trained on basic first aid, key components of safe operation, the importance of community volunteering and the roles of LEMCs in disaster management, among many other topics.
NAN further reported that the orientation workshop was held in the senatorial districts of the state. NAN
