By Paul Williams
The Governor Simon Lalong led administration has been cautioned not to take steps or decisions that will be enemical to the State going forward.
The call was made by the Executive Director, Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA), Comrade Pwakim Jacob Choji, while briefing journalists in Jos the State Capital.
Choji said, “We would like to call the attention of the outgoing governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong, appointees, and civil servants working in these last days of the administration not to indulge in activities that may jeopardize the stability of the new administration.
“It is true that the sitting governor can still make decisions and take actions until the new governor is sworn-in on May 29, 2023, but the outgoing government should be guided by both the moral and legal burden of responsibility, not to take actions that contravene the laws guiding the state and the principles of good conscience.
According to him, “Power is transient; hence, the outgoing governor must know that the incoming-government also has a burden to conduct a thorough investigation into the actions taken in the past.
“This is not a witch-hunt” as politicians would often want us to believe, but a best practice in governance, as governance is about accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness”, he maintained.
“There have been reported cases of sharp practices in the last days of the administration. For instance, it is alleged that the outgoing government has been deeply involved in a last minute rush to recruit people into the public service in the last two months.
“This move is also followed by a backdated promotion for civil servants that should have been promoted many years ago.
“While we appreciate the ideal good intention behind the recruitment of a workforce and the promotion of hardworking staff, it’s crucial to have allowed the new government to decide on what categories of staff are needed for recruitment to support the implementation of its promise to the Plateau people”, he explained.
“According to our sources, the outgoing administration struggled to pay N2.1 billion as wage burden for January 2023 and N2.8 billion in February of the same year without the inclusion of the over 4,000 workers recruited in the last two months.
“This only means that the intention around the addition of the 4000 workforce did not have deep consideration for the income of the state and may not have been done following due process.
“This has the tendency to create a labour crisis upon the assumption of office by the incoming governor in Plateau State”, he further explained.
“It will be unfortunate if the assertion of analysts is true that the intention of the recruitment and the late hour promotion is to set up a booby trap for the incoming administration by taking the wage bill of the state to the roof to make things difficult for the incoming government to take-off smoothly.
“Beside this, there are allegations of indiscriminate sales of government lands, buildings, vehicles, tractors, and other equipment within and outside the state.
“For instance, in Jos (i) Dogon Dutse Quarters (former Army Barracks)- new beacons are being fixed; (ii) West of Mines Quarters (adjacent Police Area Command,Jos Metro).
Others include, “Senior Staff Quarters, Bauchi Road (iv) Rogotak-Za’ang (the land housing the new Jos South Mini Stadium and the surrounding lands).
“In Abuja,items within the Plateau State Housing Estate at Gwarinpa. In Kaduna State, (i) property of the State Liaison Office; (ii) Vehicles and Office equipment: In Lagos: (i) property and lands (ii) vehicles and office equipment, among numerous others.
“There are allegations that vehicles belonging to the government are being converted to individual ownership at the Plateau State Board of Internal Revenue, while spare parts of some official vehicles are being exchanged for substandard ones.
“We wish to draw the attention of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, people of good conscience, and the entire citizens of Plateau State to the grave allegations with a view to taking proactive measures to stop the happenings that have the capacity to affect us all.
“Ordinarily, we would have used other means of addressing these allegations, like writing a letter to the governor, but over time, letters are often not responded to by the governor; hence, the need for us to engage the fourth estate of the realm, who may dig deeper or use it as a developing story.
“Since no action happens in isolation, this is to raise the attention of the people so that citizens are aware and also willing to report any action either now or in the future.
“Plateau State belongs to all citizens, and it is the duty of all well meaning citizens to rise up to protect our heritage by reporting acts that may undermine it. The present and future generations look up to each of us”, he admonished.
“We look forward to a better Plateau devoid of political instability, corruption, and underdevelopment”.
