PRESS RELEASE

14th November, 2023.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS,
PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE,
YAKUBU GOWON WAY,
JOS.

Yesterday, 13th November, 2023, Plateau citizens woke up to a bizarre and brazen display of gross insensitivity by the Plateau state People’s Democratic Party where it shamelessly caused banners to be printed and displayed on the Plateau State Polytechnic Overhead Bridge in the centre of Jos describing some illustrious sons, including the Hon. Member Representing Pankshin/ Kanke/ Kanam, Hon. Yusufu Gagdi, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, a former Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Jos South/ Jos East and our well -respected daughter, Justice Monica Dongbam- Mensem as “Faces of Plateau Enemies”.

This is a continuation of the unprovoked acts of the party in the wake of the passage of judgement by the Appeal Court in Abuja, which in accordance with the law and precedents, upturned the pyrrhic victory of the PDP in the State based on its self- inflicted and flagrant disrespect of Court Orders on LACK OF STRUCTURE.

The All Progressives Congress in Plateau State takes very serious exception to this unfortunate display of rascality and abuse on the collective psyche of our people.

We see this as a deliberate attempt to plunge the state once again into the dark days of bloodletting in the name of desperate attempts to cling on to power at all cost in the face of its self-inflicted woes.

For the past two weeks now, we have been witnessing with amazement the macabre dance of the decrepit PDP through circuit shows on State and National Television stations, sponsored protests in Jos and Abuja ostensibly to coerce or cajole the judiciary into reversing itself which is a clear invitation to anarchy as the judiciary remains the bastion of our democracy.

We are worried that the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state would engage himself in these political summersaults. Last week, even when it was in the public domain that funds were released to mobilise some gullible youth, women who are struggling to eke a living due to their impoverished and harsh condition of living in the state and some professional thugs to protest against the judgments which are final. Unfortunately for them, the protest turned out to be a failed project as more judgements were passed against the PDP National Assembly candidates the following day. The governor came out to “condemn” the protest! which we see as mere face-saving.

Security agencies in the state must be commended for their professional conduct in handling the situation which was almost snowballing into a major crises as the protesters were marching to set the Appeal Court in Jos ablaze and damaging vehicles of unsuspecting road users.

Only yesterday, some hapless and sponsored Plateau youths under the aegis of a so-called ” Coalition For Truth and Justice in Africa” were shipped to Abuja and strategically dropped at by the Eagle Square and marched haggardly to the Supreme Court gates with their faces covered with posters to defy easy identification.

Just as the governor through his Director of Press and Publicity, Gyang Bere came out to casually condemn the Plateau Polytechnic inflammatory banner demonising our patriotic sons and daughter, he blamed the act on an “opposition party” in the state, an accusation which cannot pass the test of logic.The APC cannot for any reason engage in defaming its very own and our daughter which the state is proud of no matter what the PDP thinks.

These are certainly not good times for the people of Plateau state which the Peoples Democratic Party has held captive. Last weekend, for instance, all Bikers in this country were mobilised to Jos where they disrupted Jos residents’ sleep with all night displays.Their presence in the state cannot be a mere coincidence as we believe this is part of the futile attempt to mobilise support for the embattled Governor which the sword of justice in respect of his seat is staring him menacingly in the face.

This is, indeed, a season for making money in our beleaguered state as people with weird ideas on how to grab their shares of state funds including people who know the truth but would not come out to say it, are falling over each other. All other things especially the payment of workers salaries and retirees pension have been placed on halt as funds are only released to pursue the legal tussle which they have substantially lost out.

The APC is fully aware of the grand plan to mobilise protesters from all the 17 local government areas to Jos tomorrow 15th November, to stage a “mother of all protests” against the Appeal Court Judgements and the impending verdict on the Gubernatorial Appeal Petition.

We call on security agencies to be on red alert as there are invidious plans to disrupt the delicate tripod on which the peace of the state currently stands. We are dumbfounded by some postings on social media by some extremists in the PDP stating unprintable things to incite religious disharmony in our beloved state and calling for a military take- over because the PDP has dribbled itself out of power.

We are surprised by the litany of protests which they know would not yield any fruit as the law remains the law. We need to be reminded that in our holy books, laws are made to guide against its breakers and not for the righteous.

The serial protests sponsored by the PDP -led government are misdirected. It is against this backdrop that we call on the protesters to turn thier protests against its dishonest and deviant leaders who know the truth but would not come out to tell thier supporters.Those who lost their seats are victims of PDP internal contradictions which the PDP took PDP to court and a faction got judgement in its favour that the party did not conduct and acceptable Congress.The Court was magnanimous enough when Justice S. P. Gang of the Plateau High Court directed them to go back and conduct an all inclusive Congress since 2020 which a faction of the party refused to comply.

Its refusal to comply with the Court Judgment led the party from being denied participation in the 2021 Local Government Election and the loss of seat it won in the Jos North/Bassa rerun election at the tribunal in October 2022.

These serial disrespect of subsisting Court Orders which have put the PDP in the Zamfara way in 2019 which was exactly the same case as Plateau State CANNOT be blamed on APC which is a happy major beneficiary of its self – inflicted woes. In the same vein, the judiciary which it has disparaged by calling the Judges who are doing their work judiciously should not be blamed.

In fact, if the PDP continues on the path of this deviant behaviour of disobeying Court Orders, it has lost the 2024 Local Government Election and also the 2027 General Election in advance because as the judges in their well informed judgments have maintained at all levels that the party does not have a STRUCTURE and as such ” nothing can stand on nothing.” They even stated in categorical terms that all those who stood for elections under the PDP in Plateau state did so as Independent candidates which has no place in the 1999 constitution (as amended) As such their wrongs cannot be turned into “rights” no matter their ill informed agitations.

The Governor ought to be concerned about the many negative firsts he has recorded in his 200 days in office which include the organising of the 17 Local Government workers under NULGE to go on indefinite strike over the Inspector General of Police directive to open the Local Government Secretariat for Elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors to resume work, the organising of series of protests in the nation’s capital city of Abuja using state funds and more ridiculously the passage of the 2024 budget of over N300 Billion into law without any defence by the MDAs, passage into law a supplementary budget of 27 Billion and a loan of N1.5 Billion all under one hour! Where is the place of holding power in trust for the people in all these embarrassing scenarios?

The PDP has tasted enough the will of the people of Plateau state under a so-called Plateau heritage which is the interest of its sole administrator. Nobody except the faction that went to court and got the Judgements which have become the bane of the party can question him.Hero worshipping has no place in democracy.

The gullible supporters need to know this fact and refrain from overheating the polity and allow peace to reign.Their posters, banners and anger should be directed at their leader(s) for refusal to tell them the truth and nothing but the truth. Until this is done, the party would continue to float in self-delusion.

Signed:

Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary.

…As Plateau PDP cries foul

By Attai Audu, Jos

Over the past weeks, the political landscape has witnessed a judicial tsunami that has swept away over nine federal lawmakers from their respective seats in a manner that has sent shock waves to their affected political parties.

The Court of Appeal had in their separate judgments sacked the affected lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly for different reasons.

Some of the affected lawmakers include Senators Elisha Abbo (APC Adamawa North); Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere (APC Kogi Central); Simon Mwadkwon (PDP Plateau North and Senate Minority Leader); Darlington Nwokocha; Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso and a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Jingi Rufai (Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha, Adamawa State).

But the judgment that has set many tongues wagging is the one involving the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, a Senator representing Plateau North on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).  

Sen. Nwadkwon was the third Senator to be sacked by the court. It however, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct a rerun within 90 days.

The three member panel of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment held that  Mwadkwon was not qualified to stand for an election as his party, the PDP, which nominated him during the election, had no structure to do so, having not complied with an earlier high court order for the party to conduct a proper state congress.

Justice E. Daudu, who read the lead judgment of the appellate court, held that the high court order was not fully complied with by the PDP as 12 LGAs didn’t participate in the said congress.

The same judgment was dished out for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency. This was because Labour Party came second for Senatorial election and PRP came second for Bassa/Jos North Election.

But the case was different for Shendam/Quanpan/Mikang Federal Constituency where the PDP victory was nullified and the certificate  of return withdrawn and handed over to APC candidate who won in one out of 32 Federal Wards.

In all, four members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Plateau State, from the National Assembly, were sacked by the Court of Appeal based on a pre-election dispute.

The above judgments have raised controversy particularly within the PDP, which strongly believed that the subject matter before the court bordered squally on the issue of nomination and sponsorship of candidates by a political party, which they argued, rightly so, that is an internal affairs of the party and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the court.

https://s.adx.opera.com/pagead?pk=s7004182914176&w=328&h=0&fpil=0&aid=ccab707c-fd9b-4623-8f0c-741e373543c1&cc=NG&conn=MOBILE%2FLTE&dm=TECNO%20BD4h&dt=PHONE&dv=TECNO%20MOBILE%20LIMITED&lc=en&oid=04819bed6d0e19c6ee58cb045ec1146ad3f3655431317020d4edb9e7d98e0590&opr=62130&ost=ANDROID&osv=11&pkg=com.opera.app.news&pkgv=10.8.2254.63920&tk=84c75927bc5faa61146852e2eb6cdd58&ts=1700030037&uc=true&uid=OPU8061c605db4245758690127547811407&bl=en-US&cst=UTF-8&debug=false&rf=&sch=10455&scl=0&sct=0&scw=360&title=RWxlY3Rpb24gUGV0aXRpb25zOiBKdWRpY2lhbCBUc3VuYW1pIGF0IEFwcGVhbCBDb3VydCAtIE9wZXJhIE5ld3MgT2ZmaWNpYWw%3D&tz=GMT%2B0100&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstories.6chcdn.feednews.com%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F7af1ae8e0413ebd564acdec610d52172%3Fac%3D4g%26app_version%3D10.8.2254.63920%26client%3Dnews%26country%3Dng%26entry_id%3D37ba34d2231115en_ng%26features%3D281198437859085%26lang%3Den%26language%3Den%26low_perf%3Dfalse%26mode%3Dbody%26picture_less%3Ddisabled%26request_id%3DDETAIL_EXPLORE_82fd263e-791a-4aaf-8d65-d6194fcc271c%26swdp%3D360%26uid%3Dd512b0e3c69b7c47fdab226b722f052303175498&vph=623&vpw=360&vr=stories.6chcdn.feednews.com&ct=BIG_CARD&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_180x150&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_250x250&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_300x100&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_300x250&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_300x50&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_300x600&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_320x100&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_320x140&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_320x480&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_320x50&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_336x280&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_360x375&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_468x60&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_728x90&ct=DISPLAY_HTML_970x90&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_2x1&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_3x1&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_4x1&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_5x1&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_6x1&ct=NATIVE_BANNER_6x5&ct=NATIVE_SMALL_BANNER&ct=JS_TAG&ct=JS_TAG_LIST&ct=SMALL_CARD&ct=VIDEO_16x9&ct=VIDEO_9x16&ct=VAST_3_URL&ct=VAST_3_XML&ua=Mozilla%2F5.0%20(Linux%3B%20Android%2011%3B%20TECNO%20BD4h%20Build%2FRP1A.200720.011%3B%20wv)%20AppleWebKit%2F537.36%20(KHTML%2C%20like%20Gecko)%20Version%2F4.0%20Chrome%2F97.0.4692.98%20Mobile%20Safari%2F537.36&pubcid=0387a808-5399-4c6c-a2ca-01573b66e947

This is because it’s an established principles of law that pre- election matters are purely internal affairs of political parties and opposition parties have no right to meddle into them. 

Who is After Plateau State?

The Court of Appeal by departing from judicial principles regarding the issue of nomination/sponsorship of candidates, including Supreme Court decisions, has created fears and  suspicion in the minds of people of Plateau that the state is being targeted by the powers that be,  for political and selfish reasons.

The situation took a different dimension on Monday, November 13 when over 1,000 protesters stormed the Supreme Court to express their anger and concern over the issue.

Armed with a protest letter that was submitted to the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the protesters under the aegies of Coalition for Justice in Africa, CJA, said their complaint is that the appellate court, by its judgment, thwarted the wish of electorates in Plateau state, when it declared candidates that lost the National Assembly elections that held on February 25, as winners of the legislative seats.

National President of the CJA, Dr. Daniel Okwa, stated that the judgment of the appellate court was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state while accusing some chieftains of the APC of influencing the judgments and therefore, seek the intervention of the CJN.

The fear of the group and the PDP can be better understood within the context of the pending appeal by the APC before the same court challenging the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

Already, arguments have been taken and judgment has been reserved to a date to be communicated to parties.

Speaking on its state of preparedness for the 2023 elections as well as developments after the polls, the PDP said it came out stronger and victorious from the shock of losing the 2015 and 2019 Governorship elections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by putting in place the right and formidable party structure under the leadership of Hon. Chris Hassan.

The party carried out an in-house assessment after the 2019 General Elections and decided to conduct a fresh party congress in 2020, preparatory to the 2023 General Elections. At the congress, Hon. Chris Hassan defeated Hon. Bitrus Kaze to emerge the State Chairman of the party.

Hon. Kaze, who was dissatisfied with the outcome of the congress, challenged the emergence of Chris Hassan as the PDP Chairman at the State High Court, Jos, where Justice Gang passed judgment in favour of Kaze and ordered for the repeat of the State Congress.

The National Secretariat of the PDP disbanded the Chris Hassan Committee and set up a Caretaker Committee headed by Sen. Tunde Ogbeha.

Within this period, Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission  (PLASIEC) had released a time table to conduct Local Government Elections in the state.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP conducted its primary elections and came up with the party’s Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates and submitted same to PLASIEC ahead of the Local Government elections. PLASIEC carried out its constitutional responsibility by screening and clearing all the PDP candidates to participate in the election.

But Hon. Bitrus Kaze wrote to the PLASIEC leadership and demanded the disqualification of all PDP candidates from participating in the 2021 Local Government elections. The letter was honoured and PLASIEC disqualified all PDP candidates from participating in the said elections which paved way for all APC candidates to automatically emerge as Chairmen and Councillors across the 17 Local Government Areas.

While the PDP dragged PLASIEC to Court to challenge the disqualification of the PDP candidates from participating in the local government elections, the National Working Committee of the PDP, in compliance to the court order, set up a congress committee headed by His Excellency, Prince Olusola Akanmode, with Hon. Dr. Sha’aban Ohinoyi, Mrs Chioma Nnaji, Audu-War Mathias as members while Kabiru Magaji served as secretary of the congress committee.

The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, was notified. He mobilized his men to provide security at the venue of the Congress. In addition, INEC witnessed, observed and monitored the repeated congress held at Langfield Event Centre, Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State on the 25th of September, 2021 and issued a Report to that effect.            

All the Plaintiffs/Judgment Creditors in the Suit, that is Hon. Bitrus Kaze and others, participated in the said congress held on September 25, 2021 which produced the current state Executive Committee headed by Hon. Chris Hassan, as Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the PDP.

The Congress was conducted peacefully, without rancour whatsoever, and all the aspirants, inclusive of the Plaintiffs/Judgment Creditors (Bitrus Kaze) were given ample opportunity to participate in the State Congress and Bitrus Kaze accepted the outcome in good faith and congratulated Hon. Chris Hassan for emerging the new Chairman of the party.

However, the State High Court, under Justice Kunda, entered Judgment in the PLASIEC case with PDP in favour of PLASIEC because there was no evidence before the court that the party had repeated the congresses in compliance with the Court order. The PDP proceeded to Appeal Court and after the repeat congress on September 25, 2021, the PDP withdrew its case at the Appeal Court.

Since then, none of those who participated in the repeated congress, including Bitrus Kaze, or any other member of the party, challenged the outcome of the repeated congress, having accepted the result in good faith and congratulated the winner.

At this point, PDP had a recognized and valid State Executive Committee of the party headed by Hon. Chris Hassan.

The PDP, in its determination to take over power in 2023, commenced the preparation for the 2023 general election where the National Working Committee released the guidelines for the election of the three adhoc delegates which was conducted by the PDP North Central Vice Chairman, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, with the exclusion of the State Executive Committee in line with the 2022  Electoral Act.

The party conducted its primaries peacefully from the State House of Assembly, the National Assembly and the Governorship primaries which produced Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.

His emergence as the PDP flag bearer brought a sigh of relief to Plateau people due to his competent and renewed commitment to drive the peace and unity of the state. To many, including some members of the opposition, his emergence marked the beginning of PDP taking over the state in 2023.

Having put all these necessary structures in place, the PDP then boasted that as a law abiding and people- oriented party with human face in Plateau, it did what other political  parties did not do by holding a state  congress.

The PDP went further to accuse the APC of not  holding  a party congress, as what the APC did at Crest Hotel, Jos was a charade. It was seen as a tea party by commentators as it fell short of all democratic processes.

A chieftain of the PDP,  who spoke on condition of anonymity said the genuine members of the party, who purchased forms to contest the election, such as Ishaya Itse and others, were disbanded from the party, leaving Rufus Bature, a man who did not purchase the party form, to contest the chairmanship position of the party unopposed.

This undemocratic action ended in litigations that questioned the integrity and credibility of the party to lead the state in 2023 coupled with the monumental failure of the APC government under Simon Lalong.

As if that is not enough, the APC repeated the same show of shame during the governorship primary election in June, 2022 held at Langfield Event Centre, Jos. The party,  under Rufus Bature, teleguided the party delegates, with names of most of the delegates across the 17 local government areas changed to their political cronies. 

This led to a massive protest from most of the aspirants who had purchased forms to contest the party’s primaries. Most of them, including the former Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, staged a walk out from the venue. That was how their rejected candidate during the polls was rejected by Plateau people.

At the National Assembly Election, the PDP won two Senatorial Seats and five Members of the House of Representatives, leaving APC with one Senate seat and three House of Representatives seat. 

The PDP equally won the Governorship Election in the state overwhelmingly with 16 members of the House of Assembly out of 24 seats.

The victory of Governor Mutfwang was greeted with outbreak of spontaneous celebrations across the nooks and crannies of the 17 local government areas of the state. A lot of people believed that Governor Mutfwang’s victory was divine as his support cut across all ethnic and religious groups.

At this point, the APC worked hard to stop the inauguration that took place on the May 29, 2023. They followed through the Appeal Court to the Apex Court to thwart what God has destined but their effort was not fruitful. They were consoled with the saying that they will go to the tribunal and if victory is not given to them, they will retrieve all the positions at the Appeal Court.

However, when the Tribunal started, there were two panels for the National and the State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal. One of  the panels ruled in favour of the PDP that the party complied with the court order and repeated the party congresses while another ruled that the party violated the court order and has no valid structure to sponsor candidates for the 2023 elections. 

* Files Motion On Notice At Appeal Court.

Attai Audu, Jos

The leadership crisis over the seat of APC Party Chairman in Plateau state is not yet over as
Ishaya Itse is claiming to be the authentic Chairman of the party on the Plateau.

Itse describes Rufus Bature led Chairman in the state as an imposter and Illegal .

He warned Bature to stop parading himself as the party Chairman in Plateau state.

Itse told newsmen in Jos on Monday that the kangaroo party primaries that was conducted by Hon Bature group which produced Dr Nentawe as Plateau governorship governorship candidate for 2023 polls was illegal and null and void as that so called governorship primaries doesn’t exist in the eyes of the law.

He Commended the Immediate past Governor of the state now Minister of labour and employment, Simon Bako Lalong , John Daafan, and others over their victory at the court of Appeal Abuja and Commended the jurists that delivered the judgements,describing them as fearless having passed the Judgements with human face irrespective of whose ox is gored.

He cautioned APC family on the Plateau not to celebrate the victories at the Appeal Court against PDP on the ground that Plateau APC is still having plethora of court litigations especially on his Petition which he filed on “Motion on Notice” dated 9th November 2023 that had already been served on the Respondents, Rufus Bature, APC and other parties in the matter.

Itse said he would stop at nothing in pursuing the injustice meted on him and his authentic Exco’s through the instrumentality of the court to it’s logical conclusion and to ensure justice is done

Itse called on his supporters to remain calm and be focused as Justice shall surely be delivered in their favor at the end of the day.

It would be recalled that Ishaya Itse ,the Factional Chairman of APC in Plateau state has challenged the Congress that produced Rufus Bature as Party Chairman in court as he claims to remain authentic Party Chairman on the Plateau.

Attai Audu, Jos

A University Don,Prof. Edward Ossai, of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Plateau State University, Bokkos, has urged governments at all levels to support film and video production.

Professor Ossai, made the appeal at the opening of a 3-day Jos Community Film Festival (JOSFFEST) tagged: “Voice for the voiceless”, .

Professor Ossai said his call was with a view to promoting youth empowerment to curb crime and reduce unemploment.

The Don,also reiterated the need for youth development in the country, saying the Film Festival was a way of taking youths off the streets, and giving them a chance at a better life.

He, however, noted that individuals could not do it alone without the support of government.

“As one who deals with youths on a daily basis, when I saw the number of talented youths in this state without means of livelihood, and who are gradually drifting  towards crime, I was moved to create a means of expression and livelihood for them through film production.

“I thought to myself, the industry has about 120 areas where they can specialise, so I said why not create a means through which they can express themselves as specialists in the industry.

“Through this, they can gain expertise, express themselves and primarily earn a living; theatre and film production is one area where all of these can be achieved.

“The truth is no individual can do this by themselves without the support of government, I therefore use this opportunity to call on government at all levels to support such causes so we can take this children off the streets and give them dignity.
“Governance should be about responsibility and responsiveness towards the people,” Ossai said.

The don therefore, urged the youths not to give up on their dreams and resort to crime, no matter how difficult life could get.

“I want to encourage them to bring out those hidden talents so that they can be tapped into. If you don’t come out, nobody will know what you have inside.
“So come out rather than hide behind lack of support or tags of laziness. Believe in yourselves, show your talents through platforms and opportunities being provided today,” Ossas admonished.

Also speaking at the event, His Royal Highness, Adagwom Peter Nyam, Traditional leader of Tudun-Wada Community, on behalf of other benefitting communities, thanked the organisers for the opportunity given to the youths.
Nyam prayed for sustainability of such programmes to help in addressing unemployment, crime and other vices in the communities.

Sunday Independent reports that line up of the event includes film screening, film production, directing, lightening, sound, costumes/makeup, and other talents hunt.

Attai Audu, Jos

Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced that the Fund is set to graduate and present start-up packs to over 5,300 Nigerians under its 2023 special skills intervention programmes.

Director Public affairs Department Mrs Suleyol Fred Chagu in a press statement issued to newsmen in Jos at the weekend and a copy made available to Saturday Independent,said the graduation ceremony would take place between 13th November and 24th November, 2023 across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to Director Public affairs Mrs Chagu, State Governors would serve as special guests at the events in their respective States while the Minister of the FCT, Dr. Nyesom Wike and the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr. Doris Anite Uzoaka would be the special guest and distinguished guest respectively at the National closing ceremony in Abuja.

She added that the programmes that have been implemented under the 2023 skills intervention programmes includes, the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Construction Skills Empowerment programme (CONSEP), Agripreneurship Skills Empowerment Programme (AgSEP) and the Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically Challenged (STEPP-C).Implementation of the programmes which commenced in June, 2023 and lasted for a period of three months.

According to her, the programs equipped trainees with cutting-edge skills in several trades namely: Solar Power Installation, Hair Dressing and Beauty Care, Tailoring and Fashion Design, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Ladies Wigcap Making, Leatherworks (Shoe and Bag Making), Painting and Plaster of Paris and integrated Farming.

Attai Audu, Jos

The Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Jos & District Society, Monday Nto Bereh has called on government to provide openings or engage ICAN members in the political circle and the civil service in order to curb corruption.

Bere made this statement in Jos on Friday while speaking to journalists after a procession by members of the Institute to mark the International Accounting Day 2023.

He said that given the nature of high standard of ethics that members of ICAN hold and practice, they can mitigate corruption if they are brought into the civil service and given positions of responsibility to hold. “The motto of ICAN is ‘Accuracy and Integrity’. And on these two threshold we stand because they are the pillars of accountancy.

“Our members have equally gone through vigorous training before they are qualified to be called chartered accountants.

“We also have our code of ethics which is endorsed by the International Federation of Accountants which is the global organization for the practice of accountancy worldwide”.

Bereh added that members of ICAN hold the high moral and ethical prescription that helps ICAN members to shun all forms of corruption.

The ICAN Chairman said that ICAN was established by an Act of the parliament number 15 of September 1965.

He further explained that the procession was in commemoration of the International Accounting Day which started in 1972.

Bereh noted that thereafter, it has been celebrated annually in remembrance of contribution of accountants in governance, in the private sector, in the development of economies and even in the development of individuals adding that accounting principles if apply even on individual transaction, can help the individual to get able to make better decision, better investments and have better control of their finances and even their lives.

In his submission, Innocent Okwuosa, the 59th President of ICAN, said that the accounting profession has demonstrated remarkable resilience, moving from conventional approaches to embracing cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and AI, meeting the demands of an interconnected economy. 

“ICAN’s focus on lifelong learning and adherence to global benchmarks, as recommended by IFAC, ensures that Nigerian accountants are globally acknowledged for their competence and professionalism”, he said.

Attai Audu, Jos

The Provost Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science & Technology, (FCMLST), Jos, Professor Sunday O. Etukudoh has reiterated the need for all stakeholders to put hands on deck to ensure the health care delivery system in Nigeria is improved positively.

Professor Etukudoh made this call today during the Inauguration of elected executives of the Non-Academic Staff Union, (NASU) FCMLST Chapter, Lamingo Jos, Plateau State.

He commended FCMLST Chapter for its positive approach in making their demands saying that their role has not been that of militancy but has always been morale persuasion.

The Provost said that consequent upon the above, there has been relative peace in the College leading to aggregate concentration for greater achievements adding that FCMLST being a research, diagnostic centre and also a training institution has grown well in a peaceful environment.

Etukudoh hoped that NASU would continue to lend solidarity and make meaningful contributions toward the growth of FCMLST while inculcating the positive virtues of according sincere appreciation to the management of the college.

“I call on NASU, Management and all the staff to put on your because we must succeed. We are bound to make sure the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is improved.

“Just as President Bola Tinubu has charged his cabinet members, I am for success. I will not fail, but if any one wants to me fail, I will ease you out”

High point of the event is the presentation of the Act Establishing the FCMLST in 2018 to NASU by the Provost and according to him, it was necessary because it help the Union to act wisely. The Act presented was 2018 Act which was repealed into 2023 Act.

The Provost whose first appointment of four years was in 2018 and was renewed last year, particularly appreciated the National Assembly and Mr. President as the Act dies not discriminates or segregates between the academic and Non-Academic Staff.

Professor Etukudoh noted that of importance is Schedule 21 section D of the Act which stipulates thus, “Provost/CEO and other academic staff shall retire on attainment of 65 years of age, while Non-Academic Staff shall retire on 65 years of age as applicable to other training or research institutes”.

He said that what will only be borrowed from the public service is if within the classification, one is raise to the rank of a Professor, such a person will retire on attainment of 70 years of age in line with the new public service rule as championed and brought to the fore after a lot of diligent work by the Head of Service, Dr. Folashade ESO.

The Provost further commended President Tinubu for experience persons in Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate and Dr. Tunji Alausa as Coordinating Minister and Minister of state respectively.

He also revealed that the minister of health has approved that the college expand its scope of learning by training persons who will graduate as immunologist. According to the Provost, other people the college will train are, biologist and forensic science experts among others.

The NASU Chairman FCMLST branch, Cmr Olupona appreciated the Provost and the entire management staff for the support and contribution during the election which saw the emergence of the new officers and promised that the union will adopt moral persuasive means to press home their demands in line with current global trend rather than being antagonistic.

She called on the Federal Government to consider it as urgent the need to increase the capital budget of the college to put in place the needed infrastructures for effective healthcare delivery services.

There were goodwill messages from Cmr. Ezekiel Biyau and Mrs. B. I Alachabe, State Council Trustee and state secretary of NASU respectively.

Attai Audu, Jos

PLASU – Academic Staff Union has declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike at plateau state university Bokkos following the report of the national executive council visitation team during which it was established that the state government has failed to implement the second agreement signed in 2022 with the union.

PLASU _ ASSU chairman Comrade Dr Hassan Monday Zitta and secretary Comrade Deme Samson Bitrus in a joint statement made available to newsmen in Jos on Thursday,said the ASSU national President had granted the branch her request to resume it’s suspended strike .

According to them, the branch held it’s congress meeting today Thursday 9th of November 2023, and declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike untill all the issues in contention are resolved.

Other issues they raised are, inadequate capital project by the state government, provision of additional hostel accommodation, tiring and completion of road network on campus and provision of staff quarters.

Other issues raised were that of completion of parameter fencing of the university and ensuring a functional training policy with budgetary allocation for the training of scholars by the visitor.

They also demanded for provision of a functional police outpost in the university’s host community and deployment of the services of 15 armed civil defence corps and as well the payment of outstanding end academic allowances and other issues affecting productivity in the university.

According to them, if the issues raised are addressed by the university management and the state government,they will call off the strike action and resume normal Academic activities in the university.

Attai Audu, Jos

Hundreds of youths and women from the Muslim community in Plateau State on Thursday joined the protests over Appeal court judgments which sacked two Senators and four Members of the House of Representatives,
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Plateau State.

The protest came on the heels of the massive protests which brought together youths from the 17 local government areas of the State, who barricaded major streets like the Old Airport Junction and Mararaba Jama’a, demanding the review of the Judgements by the Appeal Court.

The youths unanimously described the development as an act of injustice and an attempt to rob the State of the mandate the people gave to the PDP.

The Secretary of Hausa/Fulani PDP Forum, Abdulkarim Yaro has called on the National Judicial Council, NJC to review the Appeal court judgments which was hinged on a pre-election matter that the Apeal tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to entertain.

According to Yaro, “We got up to express our displeasure with the recent judgments by the Appeal Court because we know we have been robbed of our mandate. In other States, this issue has been taken as a pre-election matter, but why is the case of Plateau different?

“We from the Muslim community, align our voice with all the groups from Plateau who came out to speak against this injustice, we were to protest but the Police said no so as law-abiding citizens, we have no other option than to obey but we demand that the whole nation should look at Plateau. Why are we treated differently?” He lamented.

On her part,Women leader of the group, Lubabatu Ali called on critical stakeholders in the judiciary and Nigerians to rise against what they termed as injustice against the people of Plateau State.

She said, “We know this has been a pre-election issue, we want justice. We all came out massively and supported the PDP and the Party won with a difference of 40,000 to 50,000. So much resources and energy have been expended.

“This Congress they are saying, I am a member of the PDP and I participated in it. It happened in the presence of INEC, it happened in the presence of the people, why are people not sincere, who is targeting at Plateau and for what reason?” She cries out.

One of the protesters, Iliya James said, “How can the mandate of someone who scored over 95,000 votes in an election be nullified by the court and the person who scored about 35,000 votes be declared as the winner? This is a miscarriage of justice.

“This is banditry, and we are here to express our dissatisfaction with the action of the Court of Appeal. These people were overwhelmingly voted for by the people of Plateau and the action of the court is trying to kill democracy using technicalities and dampening the morale of voters.

“We call on the NJC to review these judgments to restore these mandates to the original winners; those that the masses actually voted for. The judiciary should do something about its sinking image.”

Hajia Ali added, “As women, we are not happy with what is happening. The PDP government is not illegal, we voted the Party and the People we voted into office are working. We call for fairness and equity, Plateau’s cases must be treated fairly by the Courts, we demand for a review of all the cases from Plateau.”

The protest was however peaceful with security presence to forestall any breach of the peace.

 By Attai Audu, Jos

Group Operating under the auspices of League of Former Student Union Leaders has urged citizens of Plateau State to accept Appeal Court Judgements.

Addressing journalist at Crest Hotel in Jos the Plateau State Capital, the Public Relations Officer (PRO ) of the group Comrade Joseph Ladet, also called on the people of the state to work towards building a peaceful Plateau in tandem of the Motto of the state Home of Peace and Tourism’ .

‘Our state has a long standing tradition of Peaceful coexistence and harmonious inter ethnic relationships ‘

‘Our state witnessed a battle among Political gladiators that is unlike any other in recent history ,We must commend our people for displaying high fate in the electoral processes and especially in the concept of the nationhood of our Country Nigeria “.

In their words “Nevertheless as observed ,the Post election period in our state is marked by extensive litigation and challenges .”

“These challenges extended to various levels of government including the state House of Assembly,House of Representatives ,three Senatorial districts and the Gubernatorial Seat .”

The All Progressive Congress APC , Labour party ,the Peoples Redemption Party and even the ruling People’s Democratic party PDP ,are challenging election results here and there ,it has become pertinent to address these issues .

“The Courts must be seen to strengthen her principle of precedence ,as no one can intimidate the Court.”

“To our dear citizens of Plateau state ,in few weeks time ,the court has ordered rerun for some seats ,it is our heart desires that we do away with the acrimonious tendencies that occasioned the recently passed general elections .”

“Political parties involved must be seen exercising caution as they continue to engage with the electorates ..”