‘No plans to relocate ITF headquartres from Jos’ – Management

The Management of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has refuted rumours of a proposed plan to relocate the agency’s headquarters from Jos, the Plateau State capital, to another state, saying there are no such plans now or in the future.

A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Prof. Theodore Bala Maiyaki (SAN), had, during plenary on Thursday, raised a motion under a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, calling the attention of the Assembly to alleged plans to relocate the ITF headquarters from Jos.

In the motion, Maiyaki urged the state and the Federal Governments, as well as relevant authorities, to immediately halt any plan to move the agency’s headquarters from the state capital, with a warning that such a move would have far-reaching socio-economic and historical consequences for the state.

But while reacting to the report, the agency, in a statement by its Head of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor, debunked the claims, saying the motion was unnecessarily alarmist and based on false information with the risk of harming the cordial and harmonious relationship that had historically existed between the ITF and the people of the state.

In the statement, Ngor said that though the agency appreciates the efforts of the lawmaker to represent his constituency and Plateau State as required by his office, his motion, which was without concrete facts, could cause potential ill-will and disaffection as there is no proposed relocation of the ITF headquarters from Jos.

The statement noted that the relocation of agencies involves several processes, and thus far, none of them have been contemplated by the responsible authorities within the ITF, critical to such decisions.

It stressed that neither the management, the Governing Council of the ITF, nor the supervising Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, which is responsible for running the agency, had considered any speculated relocation.

Ngor stated that on the contrary, the ITF values its long-standing historical ties and socio-economic contributions to Plateau State, which have been integral to its identity since 1976, when the Fund’s headquarters was relocated from Lagos to Jos.

“The ITF remains committed to fostering industrial and economic growth in Plateau State and Nigeria, with Jos as the central hub for its operations in the foreseeable future.

“The Fund welcomes dialogue with the state government and relevant stakeholders to address concerns and strengthen collaborative efforts for mutual benefit.

“In light of the above, the ITF reaffirms its commitment to its heritage and responsibilities in Jos and urges the public to disregard rumours of relocation as unfounded and misleading,” Ngor emphasized.

‘No plans to relocate ITF headquartres from Jos’ – Management