By Peter Akpah

The Northern Governors Forum has condemned the attack on the convoy of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, describing the act as callous and reprehensible.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong in a statement said the attack on Governor Zulum’s convoy who was on his way to Baga, a commercial town in Kukawa Local Government Area to personally distribute relief materials to internally displaced persons for the Sallah celebrations was another desperate attempt by criminal elements to sabotage the efforts of the Governor towards reducing the suffering of vulnerable people who have been traumatized by terrorists.

Governor Lalong said “this regrettable attack shows the desperation by enemies of peace and humanity at large to jeopardize all efforts towards making life easier for victims of violence in the State over the years. The Northern Governors Forum strongly condemns this attack and stands with Governor Zulum who has demonstrated courage in personally reaching out to people in need despite the dangers. We urge him not to deterred as he keeps working with security agencies to protect the lives and properties of the people”.

In another development, the Northern Governors Forum has mourned the death of elder statesman and leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayorinde Fasanmi.

Governor Lalong in a condolence message on behalf of the Forum described the death of the elder statesman as a great loss to the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole giving his enormous contributions to the political development of Nigeria.

Lalong said Pa Fasanmi played active role in the enthronement of democracy and its sustenance through his roles as a legislator in the first and second Republics where he advocated for good governance, justice and equity.

While praying God to grant his soul eternal rest, he condoled with his family, friends, political associates and followers.

By Peter Akpah

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has signed into law the revised 2020 Appropriation Bill into law.
The 2020 Budget was revised from N177,340,521,174.00 to N122, 848,822,913.00.
Governor Lalong while performing the ceremony at the new Government House little Rayfield Jos, said the revised budget became necessary because of the need to take care of the realities of COVID-19 which has greatly affected the economy of the State.

He said “For us as a State, the impact has been huge as our earnings have drastically fallen even in the face of demands for funds to carry out statutory responsibilities and also respond to the challenges of the corona virus pandemic. That is why we engaged in various cost-cutting measures to enable us manage the lean resources efficiently and also try to fulfill our most basic responsibilities of providing services to our citizens”.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to working through this challenging period by effectively applying available resources to the most critical areas that will benefit our people and assist us bequeath a lasting legacy for the people of Plateau State.
He directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning as well as all MDAs to ensure its strict and effective implementation in line with extant financial regulations.
On funding the budget, Governor Lalong said a reputable revenue collection firm has been engaged to improve on revenue targets, especially the Internally Generated Revenue which is crucial to funding the 2020 budget.

He also explained that the Government will continue to strengthen the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA); the Efficiency Unit; Bureau for Public Procurement; Liquidity Management Committee; as well as the Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Unit (PMRDU) to maximise resources and eliminate wastages.
Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Sylvester Wallangko explained that the revised budget consists of 42.8 Billion naira for capital expenditure and 79.9 billion naira for recurrent expenditure. He further said the revised budget is in deficit of Twenty seven billion, seven hundred and nine million, four hundred and twenty one naira (N21,709,429,246,00) which will be funded from loans from domestic and external sources.

By Peter Akpah

Governor Simon Bako Lalong says he is excited with the appointment of another illustrious son of Plateau State, Barr. Amos Azi as the Chairman/CEO of the Investments and Securities Tribunal by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lalong in a congratulatory message said the appointment of Barr. Azi is the right decision of putting a square peg in a square hole, considering the many years he has spent in the industry.He urges him to use his vast knowledge and wealth of experience as a lawyer who has deep understanding of the capital market to promote stability of the market and guarantee the security of investors’ interests.He appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Finance Mrs. Zainab Ahmed for identifying Barr. Azi and trusting him with such great responsibility, and assures that the appointee will demonstrate the true Plateau spirit of patirotism, excellence, hardwork and integrity in discharging his duties.He reassures the people of Plateau that he will continue to lobby for the appointment of credible sons and daughters of the State into Federal positions so as to support the next level agenda of President Buhari and the APC and also bring development to the State.Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
25th July 2020.

By Peter Akpah The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has deccried the continuous lockdown of schools in Nigeria, describing it as more tragic than the fear of Coronavirus Covid-19 that initially led to the closure.The party, first, commends the initial order for the suspension of public gathering including closure of schools in oder to contain the spread of the avoidable Covid-19. It, however, notes that if the government had been proactive in closing all borders on time as preventive measures, when many notable Nigerians including NNPP were raising alarm, the pandemic wouldn’t have even been imported into Nigeria in the first place.But, if markets and shopping centers can be allowed to open, the high and ranking personalities in Nigeria still hold occasions with large gathering, elections can hold both in Edo and Ondo States and the president of Nigeria can resume his foreign trip, then the continual closure of both private and public schools, which can easily be made to operate strictly under Covid-19 safety compliance, is beginning to portray the present administration as if they place low value on education and by implications, cares less for the future of our coming generation.It’s so pathetic that children have been out of school for long, resulting in gradual loose of interest in studies. And many private school teachers are becoming vulnerable with their families going hungry, since they have been forced out of job without palliative to cushion the effects. Yet, the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown have been so terrible on both the economy of the country and personal businesses. Hence, it’s difficult for most of those private school teachers to get other sources of income to cater for their families. Is it until the family members of private school teachers are beginning to die of starvation before the government will do something?Therefore, NNPP calls on the federal as well as the various state governments to look into the issue of reopening of schools, but with measures to ensure Covid-19 safety compliance as a matter of urgency.SIGNED:Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba,
Deputy National Publicity Secretary,
New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)

By Peter Akpah

The Northern Governors Forum has commiserated with their colleague, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and the people of Kwara State over the death of his father and statesman Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq SAN (OFR) who died at the age of 93.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong in a condolence message described the death of the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria as a great loss to not only the people of Kwara State, but to the entire region and the nation at large.

Lalong said “we are saddened by the passing of this great man who brought pride and dignity to his family, the Northern region and Nigeria through the many responsibilities he handled during his life time. Though his death is painful, we should also celebrate his achievements particularly in the legal profession where he set the pace by mentoring and inspiring many in the profession, using his influence as Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers and a Senior Advocate”.

Governor Lalong also noted that the late
Abdulganiyu Abdulrasaq at various times also contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria as member of the Northern House of Assembly; Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ivory Coast; member of the Federal Parliament; and Federal Cabinet Minister of State for Transport among other duties he handled effectively.

The Northern Governors urged members of his family particularly his wife Hajia Raliat, children and grand children to accept his passing as the will of God and take solace in the fact that he fulfilled his assignment on earth and left lasting legacies which should be sustained.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press &Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State & Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.
July 25th 2020.

By Peter Akpah

Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has congratulated the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF Mr. Joseph Ntung Ari on his reappointment for another term of four years.
Governor Lalong in a congratulatory message described the development as another good omen for the agency and Plateau State giving the track record of achievements of Mr. Ari in the last four years.

He said “I am not surprised by the reappointment of Mr. Joseph Ari by Mr. President for another term because in the last four years, he has rebranded and refocused the organisation by making it a frontline skill development and job creation machinery that has empowered millions of Nigerians. This has given hope to many youths and reduced the fruitless hunt for non-existing white collar jobs, thereby reducing crime in the society”.
The Governor while wishing Mr. Ari a fruitful tenure, assures him that Plateau State Government will continue to partner with the ITF in empowering its citizens through skill development and entrepreneurial development.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for considering more sons and daughters of Plateau State for appointment into Federal Government Agencies, assuring him that they will continue to give their best at all times.

By Peter Akpah l

The Northern Governors Forum has expressed shock over the death of Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, elder statesman, veteran journalist and a life patron of the International Press Institute and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
In a condolence message, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong said the Forum is saddened by the news of the demise of Malam Isma’ila whose sudden death was announced Monday evening.
He said, “This is a great loss to his family, the Northern Region and the entire Nation considering his immense contributions to national development. He is one person that has built bridges among people of different ethnic, religious and political persuasions and also encouraged unity, peace and tolerance”.
Lalong said the Late Mallam Isma’ila Funtua distinguished himself as a journalist where he not only led the clamour for freedom of expression and the press, but also encouraged responsible journalism practice that is geared towards nation-building and propagation of truth, justice and the fight against corruption.
Lalong said the business acumen, humility and hardwork of the late Mallam Funtua among his many achievements will continue to inspire the younger generation especially now that the nation is in dire need of role models.
He said Nigeria and in particular the Northern Region will miss his wealth of wisdom and knowledge which he was ever ready to offer particularly during critical times.
Governor Lalong prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and also give the bereaved family of the strength to bear the loss.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of
Plateau State & Chairman Northern Governors Forum
20th July 2020

By Peter Akpah The Northern Governors Forum has expressed shock over the death of Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, elder statesman, veteran journalist and a life patron of the International Press Institute and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
In a condolence message, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong said the Forum is saddened by the news of the demise of Malam Isma’ila whose sudden death was announced Monday evening.
He said, “This is a great loss to his family, the Northern Region and the entire Nation considering his immense contributions to national development. He is one person that has built bridges among people of different ethnic, religious and political persuasions and also encouraged unity, peace and tolerance”.
Lalong said the Late Mallam Isma’ila Funtua distinguished himself as a journalist where he not only led the clamour for freedom of expression and the press, but also encouraged responsible journalism practice that is geared towards nation-building and propagation of truth, justice and the fight against corruption.
Lalong said the business acumen, humility and hardwork of the late Mallam Funtua among his many achievements will continue to inspire the younger generation especially now that the nation is in dire need of role models.
He said Nigeria and in particular the Northern Region will miss his wealth of wisdom and knowledge which he was ever ready to offer particularly during critical times.
Governor Lalong prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and also give the bereaved family of the strength to bear the loss.Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of
Plateau State & Chairman Northern Governors Forum
20th July 2020

By Peter Akpah

PDP, has uncovered plans by the State APC government led by Simon Bako Lalong to frame and impeach the Executive Chairman of Langtang North LGC, Hon Ubandoma Joshua Laven .

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democractic Party, PDP, says the party has uncovered plans by the State APC government led by Simon Bako Lalong to frame and impeach the Executive Chairman of Langtang North LGC, Hon Ubandoma Joshua Laven .

According to a statement issued in Jos by the head of media of the Caretaker Committee of the party, John Akans, the party has been reliably informed by impeccable sources, desperate aide of the governor who is from Langtang north LGC mobilised and deployed for the political ambush, and and is already working towards orchestrating the plan in anticipation of the Plateau South by-election for his proxy.

The statement by the Plateau State PDP spokesman also said the party is aware of these clandestine plans and is carefully watching and monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, a group, under the auspices of Concerned Citizens for Good Governance, CCGG, in Langtang North LGA, in a press statement issued in Jos yesterday said the purported impeachment plot against Hon Ubandoma is being orchestrated by people who do not mean well for governor Simon Lalong and the good people of Langtang North LGA.

The CCGG, in the statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Comrade Paul Ezekiel, and Secretary, Edward Nandom, said the impeachment saga is being masterminded by one of the overzealous aide of Governor Simon Lalong, who is trying to use 15 APC councillors against the 3 councillors from the minority parties to impeach the chairman of Langtang North who is enjoying grassroots popularity as a result of his people-oriented programmes and policies.

The CCGG also pointed out that this development has nothing to do with the governor, adding that it is arrogance and share power mongering that make the aide feel he can get the15 councillors from the ruling APC to do everything humanly possible to distract the chairman by given the APC councillors Four weeks within to impeach the chairman Hon Ubandoma Laven from office .

They pointed out that Ubandoma who is the only opposition PDP elected executive head of a council, having overcome the brazen rigging of the October 10, 2018 councils elections in the LG election appeal tribunal, the aides is hell bend to remove the democratically elected chairman without any cogent reasons.

The statement by the CCGG reads in part : ” Since the assumption of office of Hon. Ubandoma Laven as Chairman of Langtang North LGC, he has never rested on his oars to ensure that the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.”

The CCGG also noted that although the chairman has not clocked one year in office , his achievements speak volume, including the renovation of the Langtang North water dam, remodelling of the council secretariat , provision of motorized borehole to communities hitherto without water, payment of WAEC and JAMB fees for students, curtailing the spread of Covid-19 as he was the first in the state to have fumigated his council area.

The group also noted that Hon. Ubandoma has set the pace as the only council chairman in the state that collaborated with the agricultural service training centre ASTC to carried out fumigation exercise in the entire Langtang north LGC to wade off coronavirus in February, 2020.

They have therefore appealed to Governor Simon Lalong to, as a matter of urgency, call his overzealous aide to order, noting that the impeachment plot is a distraction and an attempt to drag the governor’s reputation to the mud.

By Peter Akpah

“Facts are facts and will never disappear on account of emotions”- Wole Soyinka.

My attention was recently drawn to series of conjectures, half truths, innuendoes and bare faced fabricated allegations against my person on the social media on the aforementioned subject matter. Ordinarily, I would have ignored the unsubstantiated allegations as they only exist in the imagination of the author but on a second thought, as the Chairman of the great, discerning, wonderful, wondrous and supportive people of Mikang Local Government, I owe you the need to set the record straight.

Firstly, open secret that Mikang Local Government is divided into four major districts: Montol (the largest district and headquarters of Mikang), Garkawa, Piapung and Koenoen.

Since I came on board as the Executive Chairman of Mikang LGA, I have tried my best to imbibe equity and fair play as a guiding principle by giving everyone a sense of belonging. Let me give a background to the issue

The Ministry of Environment years ago drew our attention to the lopsidedness and imbalance in the recruitment of the 150 widows into the ministry of local government, an exercise that predates this administration. I ran a fact check and discovered that true to their claim, the recruitment was not only lopsided but it was dominated by males as well as non widows. While Montol with the highest population in Mikang had 33 beneficiaries, Garkawa had 84, Piapung had no beneficiary, while Koenoen district had 33. You can see that this is not balance.

As a democrat, I tabled the matter at the Local Government Executive Council meeting where all the districts were represented. We discussed and agreed to correct the imbalance in the interest of equity and fair play which are the two guiding principles of democracy. We resolved to return the program in tandem with its philosophy of empowering widows. We agreed that all male folks that benefited from the scheme will be disengaged and given the opportunity to be captured in the Federal Government 1,000 NDE recruitment per Local Government. We also agreed that no widow should be affected in the reform, rather, widows should replace the male beneficiaries of the scheme.

This singular act gave us the opportunity to engage more widows into the scheme, contrary to the claim that we disengaged widows, we rather engage more widows, in order to correct the lopsidedness and anomalous arrangement in the scheme and Piapung district that hitherto had no representation now has 20 widows as beneficiaries. Montol the administrative headquarters, that hitherto had just 33 beneficiaries now has 60 as the district with the highest population. In Garkawa, I gave a directive that if all the 84 beneficiaries in the district are widows, the status quo must remain as it is not in my character to disengage widows. We however discovered that out of the 84 beneficiaries from Garkawa district, only 38 were widows. We thereafter maintained the 38 widows and added two widows to make Garkawa have 40 beneficiaries.
In Koenoen district, we maintained all the thirty widows that were already recruited and only removed the three male beneficiaries.
This exercise is meant to correct and carry every one along in the usual spirit of the Mikang people. Everybody must be given a sense of belonging and no widow would be laid off. Infact, on Tuesday 21st July, 2020, all widows are expected to be at the Local Government Secretariat for verification.
Since I became the Executive Chairman of Mikang Local Government, I have ensured that all the districts have a project. This can be verified by those at the grassroots.

In Garkawa for example, we built a Primary Health Clinic at Jimakwi, and a warehouse at Garkawa market to boost the economic potentials of our people. We also dug nine boreholes to improve access to water and hygiene of our people. We installed two brand new transformers to illuminate and electrify the area and replaced vandalized electricity poles in choice areas of Garkawa district. We facilitated the construction of street lights in selected areas in Garkawa. I can say unequivocally that Garkawa is one district that has benefited infrastructurally more than even my own village Lalin.
It is open secret that both my Deputy and the Chief of Staff are from Garkawa. I have two supervisory councillors and a deputy who is in charge of works making three from the great Garkawa. This is in addition to two Senior Special Assistants and sixteen Special Assistants. So for anybody to say that we are inducing hardship on the good people of Garkawa is to be blind to facts and realities on ground and above all, mischievous.

My desire as a Local government Chairman is to see the growth, advancement and progress of Mikang Local Government Area.
Long Live Mikang Local Government! Long Live Plateau State!! Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!.

………………………….
Hon. Ezekiel Vuelgap
Executive Chairman Mikang Local Government