Plateau govt kicks as suspended chairmen resume office amidst security

The embattled chairmen and councillors of the 17 local government councils of Plateau State, on Monday, resumed their offices amidst tight security, with a call on the people of their LGAs to remain calm and peaceful. The embattled chairmen resumed their offices following a directive by the state commissioner of police, Julius Alawari, to allow […]

The embattled chairmen and councillors of the 17 local government councils of Plateau State, on Monday, resumed their offices amidst tight security, with a call on the people of their LGAs to remain calm and peaceful.

The embattled chairmen resumed their offices following a directive by the state commissioner of police, Julius Alawari, to allow them entrance to their offices two months after sealing off the council secretariats.

Daily Trust reports that the 17 LG councils secretariats were sealed off by the police following a clash by the supporters of the suspended chairmen and the transition committee chairmen who were appointed by governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The governor had earlier suspended the elected chairmen for alleged misappropriation of funds, an allegation that was denied by the chairmen and subsequently dragged him to court.

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However, our correspondent reports that some chairmen and deputy chairmen of Jos North, Kanke, Kanam, Wase, Bassa, Jos East and Jos South LG councils and   councillors have resumed their offices.

In Jos North LG, our correspondent who visited the LG secretariat reports that police personnel were seen stationed at the council to provide security as earlier directed by the state police commissioner.

The deputy, chairman of Jos North, Hon. Ezekiel Shina Agada, who addressed some officials of the council, called on the people of the local government to remain calm, adding that “we are grateful to the security agencies for abiding by the law. Now that we have resumed our responsibilities, we are law abiding and we will continue to be law abiding. To our followers, everybody should live peacefully with one another, more so that Jos North is a small Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Plateau State government has faulted the directive issued by the police commissioner to unseal the secretariats of the 17 of the state and allow the suspended chairmen to operate.

The Attorney General of the state, Mr Philimon Daffi, faulted the move while briefing journalists shortly after an emergency security council meeting on Sunday in Jos.

The attorney general said that the new directive issued by the command on Aug. 26, asking the suspended council chairmen to resume official duties was faulty, maintaining that the directive had the tendency of throwing the state into serious tension if not properly handled.

In the meantime, members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULE), in Plateau State, who declared indefinite strike, have complied with the directive given by the leadership of their union.

Yohana Makwin Arondon, who is the president of the group in the state, had during a press conference on Sunday in Jos, announced the commencement of the strike, explaining that the action became necessary in view of the possible clash between supporters of the APC and PDP at the various secretariats of the 17 LGAs.