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Tag: Simon Lalong

  • South West leaders insist on restructuring

    South West leaders insist on restructuring

    South West leaders on Monday opted for united Nigeria and warned those calling for disintegration of the country to drop the idea.

    They said the solution to problems facing the country is restructuring to reflect the principles of true federalism as envisioned by founding fathers of the country.

    The event was the public presentation of memorandum on true federalism organized by the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) held at the Conference Centre of University of Ibadan.

    Many leaders took turn to present their memorandum to the committee on true federalism which has the mandate to review the ideas variously referred to as restructuring, devolution of powers, resource control and regionalism among others with a view to articulating and aligning the public position with the ruling party’s manifesto and campaign promises.

    Present at the event were the APC leaders in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos, the APC Committee on True Federalism led by its Chairman, Governor Simon Lalong , the Oyo State deputy governor, Otunba Moses Alake, and former governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sulliva Chime .

    Others included prominent traditional rulers led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi , the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, and Onijeru of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo.

    Also present were South West APC Women leader, Kemi Nelson, Afenifere Renewal Group ( ARG) Chairman, Mr. Wale Oshin , representative of Lagos State governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke and the APC Vice Chairman in Lagos, Chief Funso Ologunde, among others .

    Before making the Oyo State government’s presentation, the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake, described the APC led administration as a responsible and responsive government, with the people’s interest and well-being as its cardinal focus.

    He said the agitation for restructuring is an indication that something needed to be addressed on the current structure or arrangement in the country.

    “For instance, the present revenue formula which gives 52.8 percent of federally collected revenue to the federal government , with paltry 26.72 percent and 20 percent to states and local governments respectively, is too lopsided , thus leaving the states with serious financial challenges .

    “Besides, the centre is too saddled with too many responsibilities which it finds pretty difficult to discharge as much as the sub-national units simply of over centralisation.

    The governor expressed dissatisfaction with the current derivation formula and called for urgent action to redress the disparity.

     

  • Northern governors to visit South East, South South

    Northern governors to visit South East, South South

    A delegation of Northern Governors Forum will visit the South East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.

    A statement issued by the Spokesman to Sokoto State Governor, Imam Imam, said the visit was an effort to douse tension and promote peace and dialogue among all sections of the country.

    “The team, to be led by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, will also have Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto.

    “Other members of the team are Governor Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Mr. Simon Lalong (Plateau),” he said.

    The spokesman said the delegation would hold meetings with their counterparts in Rivers, Abia and Imo States.

    “Apart from the visit to political leaderships in those states, the delegation is expected to meet with traditional and religious leaders and also confer with northerners resident in those states.

    “Importantly, the delegation will reassure their counterparts in the South-South and South East that all Nigerians are free to stay in all parts of the country.”

    He said the delegation would also reiterate that “the entire North stands with the people of South East in this period of heightened tension.”

  • Herding: A crisis that won’t go away

    Herding: A crisis that won’t go away

    Try as the Plateau State government might, cattle grazing remains a nagging headache for the Berom, YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports

    The crisis reared its ugly head again after a period when it seemed the worst was over. The Berom in Plateau State never forgot how one night one of their communities was attacked by people suspected to be herdsmen who slaughtered as many residents as they could. Several families were left without parents. In those days clashes between crop farmers and cattle breeders were rampant. Then came the Simon Lalong administration which stepped in quickly to avert further trouble. The governor moved from one community to another seeking peace. His efforts paid off. The crisis abated.

    But did it go away? No. Three local governments have been grappling with the menace of herds of cattle eating up crops. That was why Berom women rose up in protest. The recent nude protest by Berom women and the outcry by a representative of Riyom constituency in the state house of assembly pointed to the reality of the menace in the troubled communities.

    Berom communities in three local governments, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South, have been the centre of violent conflicts between Berom crop farmers and Fulani cattle breeders. These local governments which form a larger part of Plateau North senatorial zone knew no peace between 2011 and 2015.

    The violence in the zone only came to a halt on the advent of the Lalong administration. Lalong has made restoration of peace in the area a priority area of his administration. The peace efforts he initiated led to a ceasefire. The series of midnight attacks that characterised the zone was brought to a halt following peace agreements reached between community leaders of Fulani and Berom.

    Though there are no more midnight attacks, but the total peace needed in the area has not been attained. There are complaints from farmers that the Fulani are still grazing on their farms and destroying crops. Recently, Berom women took to the streets around Bisichi in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state to protest against what they described as “illegal grazing” by herders on their farmlands.

    The protesters, mostly women, dressed in black clothes, blocked cattle routes in the areas and prevented breeders from going out for grazing. This prompted the intervention of the special military task force codenamed “Operation Safe Haven” (OPSH). The outgoing Commander, Major General Rogers Nicholas, who handed over to a new commander spearheaded the military intervention that prevented another bloody clash. The protesting Berom women said that they had complained several times to the task force about cattle grazing on their farms but that nothing was done to stop the Fulani cattle breeders, hence their protest.

    Similarly, a representative of Riyom constituency in the state house of assembly, Hon Daniel Dem added another probe to show all is not well in the communities. The lawmaker raised the alarm that almost 27 Berom villages were still being held by cattle breeders. He also confirmed that the Fulani are strange to the communities.

    Hon. Dem said while the armed Fulani occupied the villages forcefully, the original owners of the villages are in displaced persons camps in Riyom LGA. Dem who disclosed this in an interview in his office, said, “Thousands of Berom who were driven away from their homes are currently taking refuge at a safer ground. It is not a joke to say there are IDPs camps in my constituency. Just recently, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) accompanied by a member representing Riyom/Barkin Ladi federal Constituency visited the IDPs camp to deliver some relief materials. These people have been taking refuge in market stalls for more than two years. Some are squatting with their relations and they are not finding things easy. They are in a pathetic situation; they are in thousands who were displaced from various villages.

    He said, “Some the village affected in this forceful displacement by the use of arms include, Rafpen, Mase, Shonong, Lua from Bachit district. Then from Riyom district you have Jol, Rim, Gwol, Tahol, Sopp, and also Jebbu, Kwaki, Gwarim, Gwom and Torok. These villages I mentioned and several others were attacked more than twice and when the people realised they are not safe there they had to relocate. As soon as they relocated, these Fulani took over their houses and remain there till date. They have been there for over two years now, while the owners of the homes are in IDPs camps.

    “Even though there are no more attacks in the areas, government has not been able to guarantee the security of these displaced people to return to their homes. I think the situation of displaced persons in my constituency posed a very huge challenge to governments at all levels, their rehabilitation is beyond the capacity of state and local government authorities.

    “These people need shelter as well as security, they are willing and ready to go back, but they have no home to return it, they are all farmers but they have been driven away from their farmlands.

    “I made a case when NEMA brought relief materials last week, that the needs of these people are not relief materials, they need rehabilitation and empowerment for them to get back to life again, if they can have shelter and have adequate security they can farm and feed themselves. So the stage of relief materials is over. These people now want to go back to their homes.

    The lawmaker who applauded the efforts of security agencies especially Operation Safe Haven and the state government for restoring peace in the state, also said there is still more to be done to rehabilitate thousands of displaced persons. He also lamented that the federal government has concentrated its rehabilitation programme in IDPs camps in the Northeast as if those in Riyom are not Nigerians.

    When contacted, the special military troops in charge of security in the state and neighbouring Bauchi and Southern Kaduna, denied knowledge of any IDPs camp in the areas. Media officer of OPSH, Captain Umar Ahmed said, “The command is not aware of any IDPs camp in Riyom local government, we are not also aware of any village forcefully occupied by armed Fulani men.

    Meanwhile, heads of security agencies in Plateau State, leaders of Berom and Fulani communities met three weeks ago and drew up a six-point declaration in Barkin Ladi that required all grazing routes to remain open while cattle owners are to pay for damages done to farmlands by their cattle.  The agreement banned night grazing and assault on herders or their cattle.

    The same story of forceful occupation of farmlands by armed Fulani also exists in some communities of Bokkos local government. It was alleged that some armed Fulani men have driven away the owners of the farms and occupied them with their cattle.

  • APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    APC not opposed to true federalism – Odigie-Oyegun

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party was not opposed to true federalism as perceived in some quarters across the country.

    He stated this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating a 24-member committee on True Federalism to articulate the party´s position on restructuring of the country as agitations in that regard increased.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, it is only the APC that can claim ownership to the principle and the need for true federalism in the country.

    “When we sat down to discuss the union of the APC, it was one of the principal issues that were almost like a no-go-item that we negotiated and agreed.

    “And as such, the Constitution and the manifestos of the party are very elaborate in their references to true federalism and devolution of power.

    “It is therefore totally inconceivable for uninformed members of the public to jump on this bandwagon of reconstituting the federation,” he said.

    He added that such members of the public gave the impression that the APC was “in any way against the principle of taking a fresh look at the basis of our federalism”.

    Odigie-Oyegun insisted that true federalism was already a mantra to the APC, and must be looked into without jeopardising the fundamental unity of the country.

    He tasked members of the committee to have a critical look at issues of devolution of power, fiscal federalism, resource control and others thrown up following recent clamour for restructuring of the country.

    He, however, stressed that APC’s Constitution and manifesto vigorously canvassed the issues, adding that they were elaborately provided for.

    The chairman said that the party´s position on the issues had been eloquently stated in the terms of references of the committee.

    “It is your duty, especially having regard to the emotive nature of the national discourse on restructuring, to distill from our party constitution and manifesto the various ideas canvassed in different constitutional conferences.

    “I expect you to look at whatever document available on this subject and to look at whatever views and recommendations available on it.

    “I also expect, at all times, that your anchor will be the constitution and manifesto of the party, because it is on that manifesto that we went to the public of this nation.

    “I ask you to generate a report which will truly reflect the desire of our people and a true reflection of what our party stands for,” he said.

    He added that it was critical to ensure that the party met the desires of Nigerians on their idea of true federalism.

    In his response, Kaduna State Governor and Chairman of the committee, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said that APC believed in balanced federation and fiscal federalism and was doing well in that regard.

    “We can give example as state governors of the level of participation of states in certain economic policy directions for the country.

    “This government has also taken steps to devolve power and responsibility to states, without any constitutional amendment to states.

    “We have seen more cases of federal assets and roads being taken over by states willingly,” el-Rufai said.

    He disclosed that the committee had met three times and had identified 12 key issues to be discussed by Nigerians to ensure a clearer direction on issues of restructuring.

    He said that the committee would visit 12 states in the country to meet with the people at the grassroots to collate their views on the issues with a view to proffering solution.

    El-Rufai said some of the issues to be looked into were state creation, regionalism, land tenure system and revenue allocation.

    He added that the committee would also utilise social media platforms to interact with the people across the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 24-member committee, which has nine states’ governors, women, youths and some leaders of the APC, was constituted on July 9.

    Member of the committee are Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

    Others are former governor of Edo, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso; APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Hajiya Fatima Balla.

    Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi is the committee’s Secretary.

    The committee is expected to complete its assignment within three months.

  • Plateau launches voluntary assets, income declaration scheme

    Plateau launches voluntary assets, income declaration scheme

    The Plateau Government on Thursday formally launched the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to achieve massive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Mrs Tamwakat Weli, the state Commissioner for Finance who formally launched the scheme in Jos, appealed to tax payers to take advantage of the scheme to do the right thing.

    “VAIDS is a time limited opportunity for tax payers to regularise their status relating to tax periods in exchange or fully and honestly declaring previously undisclosed assets and interests without facing any penalty.

    “It’s the assurance that they will not face criminal prosecution for tax offences or be subjected to tax investigations simply because an amnesty window has been opened to all Nigerians by this scheme,’’ he said.

    Weli said that the scheme covered all federal, states and local governments income tax, personal income tax and tertiary education tax, among others.

    According to her, “tax payers especially defaulters, have a period of nine months within which to do the right thing in paying right tax as to their incomes and assets as there shall be no extension from March 31, 2018.’’

    She said that since the inception of Gov. Simon Lalong’s administration, the state had been collaborating with the Federal Government to  boost its IGR.

    The commissioner explained that once the government had a robust IGR, it would be able to finance its activities and bring the much needed development to the state.

    He said that the new scheme would assist tax administrators in the state to carry out seamless tax collection while improving on the existing friendly interface between them and tax payers.

    Earlier, Mr Dashe Arlat, PSIRS Chairman, pledged the readiness of his staff to ensure that tax payers in both formal and informal sector were captured in PSIRS data for full compliance.

    He said that the launching of the scheme was timely and would boost revenue.

  • ‘Plateau to pay sacked councillors N1.57bn severance allowance’

    ‘Plateau to pay sacked councillors N1.57bn severance allowance’

    The Plateau Government is to pay N1.57 billion as severance allowance to sacked councillors in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, following a court judgment which faulted their dissolution in 2015.

    Mr Gyang Zi, lawyer to the councillors, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos, expressed happiness with the ruling.

    “We are happy that the court ruled in our favour even though it did not give an order for the garnishing of the accounts of the state and local governments.

    “By the judgment of the High Court last Friday, my clients, 271 of them, are entitled to N1.57 billion, as their severance allowance from the state government and the 17 local government councils.

    “If the court had given an order for the garnishing of the state government and local governments’ accounts, we would have gone straight to garnish the accounts.

    “As we speak, we are already preparing our letter demanding for the payment as their (councillors’) entitlements for the remaining nine months in their two-year tenure as elected representatives of their people.”

    Zi described the judgment as “victory to democracy’’ and commended the Judge for a “thorough job and fair judgment”.

    In his reaction, Mr Garba Pwul (SAN), Counsel to Gov. Simon Lalong, said the judgment was still being studied to decide whether or not to appeal.

    “We are still studying the court judgment right now; we can only decide whether to appeal or not after careful study of its contents,” Pwul said.

    NAN recalls that Lalong had on June 15, 2015, sacked the elected council officials comprising chairmen and councillors and replaced them with Interim Management Committees (IMCs).

    Dissatisfied with their sack, the chairmen and councillors separately challenged Lalong’s decision in court, and judgment was given in their favour on Aug. 4, 2017, by the state High Court III.

    Justice David Mann, the High Court III Presiding Judge, in the ruling, faulted the removal of the elected councillors when their two-year tenure was remaining nine months.

    According to him, the councillor’s sack violates Section 23 of the Local Government Council Law and Provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of the Plateau amended Local Government Council Law of 2007.

  • Lalong dissolves LG caretaker committees

    Lalong dissolves LG caretaker committees

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Thursday dissolved caretaker committees of the 17 local governments of the state.

    Lalong announced the dissolution in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, noting that it was with immediate effect.

    The governor directed the caretaker committee chairmen to handover to directors of personnel management in their respective councils.

    He said “the chairmen and management committee members are to immediately hand over the affairs of local governments to directors of personnel management pending further actions in line with the provision of law.”

    The governor constituted the management committees in line with his powers under the edict providing for the establishment and administration of Local Government Councils 2005 (as Amended), subject to ratification of the House of Assembly.

    The tenure of the management committees expired on June 28, 2017.

    The governor appreciated members of the dissolved council management committees for their selfless service in the two years of their stewardship.

    He wished them well in their endeavours and hoped they would be available in future for service when called upon.

  • Lalong lambasts Arewa youth over eviction threat

    Lalong lambasts Arewa youth over eviction threat

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, on Friday condemned threats to evict Igbos from the North by a youth group as reckless and ill conceived.

    The governor made the condemnation in a statement by his media aide, Mr Emmanuel Nanle on Friday in Jos.

    Lalong stressed that those who issued the ultimatum had negated the true northern spirit of communality, accommodation and peaceful coexistence.

    He regretted that a highly volatile issue of such nature was trivialised and made an agenda for grandstanding by the group without any thought of its implication to the stability of the country.

    The governor said that such rash statements was uncalled for, especially at a time when all compatriots were working hard to solidify bonds of unity and national integration.

    He advised media houses to censor “retrogressive contributions to national discourse” like those of the Arewa youth coalition and IPOB.

    Lalong urged governors in the South East to resist any attempt to create value for the position of the northern youth by making it an agenda for any discussion.

    “Because it is of no essence and does not represent the position of the youth of northern Nigeria,” he said.

    The governor assured the people of Plateau that his administration would respect and protect the rights of all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.

  • Lalong promises to fill vacant traditional stools

    Lalong promises to fill vacant traditional stools

    The Plateau government will soon fill all vacant traditional stools in the state, Gov. Simon Lalong said on Tuesday in Jos.

    Lalong made the promise when he received Chief Martin Shaldas 111, the Long Goemai and Deputy Chairman, Plateau Traditional Council, on a courtesy visit.

    Stools still vacant include the Saf Ron/Kulere in Bokkos, the Ngolong Ngas, the Long Kwo in Quan Pan, among others.

    He said that traditional rulers were a very important factor in peaceful coexistence, hence the need for every ethnic group to have its traditional ruler in place.

    “We have successfully installed traditional rulers for the Izere nation, went to Goemai, to Pan and then Bassa. Those still vacant will be filled very soon.

    “There are obstacles to doing so in some areas, but we will go on our knees and pray against them,” he said.

    He particularly expressed happiness that there were no litigation in areas where his government had installed traditional rulers, and attributed that to the policy of allowing the popular will to prevail.

    The governor also promised that his government would, henceforth, pay more attention to the rural areas in the execution of projects.

    “The state capital has had its fair share of projects. We have resolved to give special attention to the rural communities,” he said.

    Lalong promised to assist in the translation of the Holy Bible into Goemai, his own tribe, and urged his people to take religion seriously as everyone would give account of his life to his creator in the hereafter.

    Earlier, Shaldas 111 had said that the visit was to thank the governor for his support during his recent coronation as the Long Goemai.

    The monarch commended Lalong for efforts that restored stability to Plateau, and for paying arrears of salaries owed Plateau workers.

  • Lalong to engage youths in policy making

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has vowed to engage the youth in policy formulation and legislation in line with United Nations requirements.

    Speaking at the inauguration of elected executive committee of the Plateau Youth Council, the governor urged the youth to contribute to the state’s development.

    The Commission for Social Development of the United Nations, Lalong said, had outlined different initiatives based on input from member states for mainstreaming youth participation into policy and legislative formulation.

    “ These practices will guarantee robust and consistent cross sectoral efforts that will make for the right focus on gender equality and empowerment for the girl-child and young women, marginalised groups and make for inclusive participation on all programme of Action for the Youth.

    “Our several interventions and the various programmes of actions and structure as put in place, have shown that we are well on course,” he said.

    Lalong said his administration established the Micro Finance and Small, Medium Enterprises Agency (PLASMEDAN) to promote  financial literacy, entrepreneurship, vocational and skills acquisition, youth and women empowerment programmes.

    “Already through this agency we have provided training to over 3,000 youths and women in the state. Out of this, 48 people are living with disability.

    “I have also flagged off phase two  of the programme for which 200 participants are to be drawn from each local government area across the 17 local government areas.

    “A total of 3,400 participants will be receiving training in different entrepreneurship areas, and would be supported at the end of the skills acquisition with start-ups.

    “The PYC will need to in her areas of needs  assessment, liaise with the various Local Government Social Welfare Departments for the various youth to be captured.

    “Worthy of mention is the fact that in order to guarantee access to a revolving low interest facility for business start-up funds, we have almost completed documentation with the Bank of Industry to access N2billion fund.

    “As we access this fund for which we have also captured our counterpart contribution in the budget, it will also open access to funds for the development of our creative and entertainment industry on the Plateau, which in itself is an employment provider.

    ”Our three E-Dimensional Approach of Empowerment, Employment and Engagement of Talents, will see us exploring and expanding on the viability of the Agricultural Value Chains, to provide employment and economic empowerment to our teeming youth while also guaranteeing food security.

    “The opportunities in integrated animal farming, the agricultural process and packaging industries, crop and vegetable production should be areas of interest for our youth,” Lalong said.

    The governor urged the youth to work hard as there is no short cut to success.

    “The road to success is passed to a desired destination only through hard work, determination and the wise application of knowledge. Experience, Education and Exposure must combine to bring you to a desired end,” he said.