NAN-H-71
Dissolution
By Thompson Charlie Yamput
Pankshin (Plateau), June 29, 2017 (NAN) A cross section of Plateau residents on Thursday lauded the dissolution of the Local Government Caretaker Committees by Gov. Simon Lalong.
Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the dissolution was “long overdue”.
Lalong had, on Thursday, announced the dissolution of the caretaker committees of the 17 local governments, and directed them to immediately hand over to the Secretaries of their respected areas.
NAN reports that the sacked local government officials were appointed by the governor in July 2015, after sacking the elected chairmen he met on assumption of office on May 29, 2015.
Mrs. Jessica Dakyen, a civil servant in Pankshin, said that the chairmen should count themselves lucky that they were kept in office for two years even though they were not elected.
“We did not know that they will stay for two years in office because caretaker committees usually stay in office for just six months.
“Most of them did not achieve much, so we were happy that they were asked to go,” Dakyen said.
Another respondent, Mr Nengak Sati, a farmer and politician, described the dissolution as “a good development”.
He said that new people would be appointed which would offer others an opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of their areas.
Sati said that it was wrong for the governor to have allowed the sacked chairmen to stay for two years since they were not elected officials, and called for balance in the appointment of their successors.
Mr John Davwat, a politician in Mangu Local Government, described the governor’s action as “very good for the APC administration in Plateau”.
“The local government management committees did not achieve anything. Their failure was becoming very embarrassing to the APC administration because there was practically no project to show.
“They kept promising better days that never came. People were already tired of them, so it was a great relief that they were asked to go,” he said.
He called on the governor and the ruling party to ensure that credible, capable and strong grassroots politicians were chosen to take over the affairs of the local governments.
“A bulk of the population live in the rural areas. We need people-oriented projects that will improve their living standards. Government must have this in mind when deciding who to appoint,” he said.
Mr Haruna Mohammed, a trader in Mangu, while commending government for sacking the officials, advised those to succeed them to strive toward improving the business environment in the rural areas.
“We want the governor to appoint people that will initiate ideas that will make businesses thrive in Mangu. Our area is known for massive farming and deserves people that have ideas that will help in the production and sales of our crops,” he said.
He advised those to be appointed to pay special attention to peace and security, pointing out that development was impossible in a chaotic environment. (NAN)
TYC/MOL/ETS
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Ephraims Sheyin