GOVERNOR LALONG MOURNS FORMER MINISTER OF DEFENCE, GEN. DOMKAT BALI
Governor Simon Lalong says Plateau State and the nation has lost one of its patriotic and loyal sons, former Minister of Defence Gen. Domkat Bali who died at the age of 80.
Governor Lalong in a statement said the passing of the retired military General is a great loss to the country considering the fact that he was one of the highly decorated officers who served the nation meritoriously in various capacities and proved his worth.
Lalong recalled that apart from serving the country as Minister of Defence, Gen. Bali was a key member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council, where he held several positions including the Chief of Defence Staff.
He said ” Gen. Bali was focused and committed to the peace and progress of Nigeria and Plateau State in particular where he contributed immensely to addressing the security challenges in the State, always deploying his wealth of knowledge and advising various administrations. Indeed Plateau State has lost an icon”.
He also said that Gen. Bali, who answered the call or his people to serve as the Ponzhi Tarok many years after his retirement from the military demonstrated so much interest in the welfare of the Taroh nation and did his best to project and protect their interests.
Governor Lalong said even in death, Gen. Bali will continue to inspire young Nigerians who want to serve the nation within the military because of his patriotism, gallantry and principles.
Lalong condoled his widow, Mrs. Esther Bali, his children, the Taroh nation and the entire State while asking God to grant his soul eternal rest.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. December 4, 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the people and government of Plateau State over the passing of an illustrious son and highly decorated retired military officer, Gen. Domkat Bali, who served the country as Minister of Defence.
The President, who spoke with the wife of the deceased, Esther on Friday, also commiserated with other family members, friends and professional associates of the former member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council, after rising through the ranks, with a distinguished military career, reaching the peak as Chief of Defence Staff.
President Buhari believes the records of bravery and patriotism of Gen. Bali, the Ponzhi Tarok, will continue to inspire young military officers, while the foundation he laid in all the commands he headed will always be remembered.
The President has also constituted a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) to visit the family, and condole with government and people of the state over the loss.
President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family.
GAGDI COMMISERATES WITH HON. SAMA’ILA HUDU BALA NOMA OVER LOSS OF WIFE, HAJ.KAREEMA.
The Member Representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Navy Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has commiserated with the member Representing Kantana Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly Hon. Sama’ila Hudu Bala and the late A A Wana Family over the death of Haj.Kareema Bala who died at the age of 52.
In a statement the Danmalikin Kanam said he was distressed over the demise of Haj. Kareema when she was most needed by her family and the society at large.
Gagdi enjoins the Bala family, A A Wana Family and the entire people of Kanam to find comfort in the fact that the departed lived a quality life, and positively touched all that came in contact with her.
Gagdi prayed that Allah will accept the soul of the departed, and grant her Jannatul Firdaus.
Former Chief of Defense Staff, General Domkat Bali (rtd) has passed on. A family source told correspondent in Langtang Friday afternoon that the retired army general passed on in Jos as arrangements were set to fly him to London for treatment. Bali who is also the Ponzhi Tarok, has been hospitalized after a protracted illness.
RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT IN PLATEAU SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Ahead of the Plateau South Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday 5th December 2020, the Plateau State Government has announced the restriction of movement within all the Local Governments in the zone.
Consequently, all vehicular movement have beeen restricted from 6am to 6pm of Saturday 5th December 2020.
By this directive, only those on essential duties will be permitted to move around during the period of restriction.
The Government wishes to call on all citizens within the Southern Senatorial Zone to fully cooperate by observing this directive in order to ensure that the by-election election is successfully conducted.
In the meantime, security personel have been properly briefed to ensure enforcement and compliance.
Danladi Abok Atu Secretary to the Government of Plateau State. 4th December 2020.
Suspected thugs have attacked the motorcade of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Mangu Local Government of Plateau State.
The officials were on their way to Shendam Local Government, headquarters of Plateau South Senatorial district, to conduct the bye-election slated for Saturday.
Some of the attacked officials were Mohammed Haruna; National Commisioner, Halilu Pai, the state resident electoral commissioner, and other senior officials.
Sources confirmed that the National Commissioner was physically assaulted while several vehicles were damaged.
INEC had rescheduled the bye-election into Plateau South which became vacant due to the demise of the former occupant from October 31 to December 5 following the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country.
The 45-year old, reported to be a student of Ekiti State University, replaces Bamidele Akpan.
The election was, on Thursday, disrupted by violence.
About 20 members of the association, who gathered at the old parade ground in Abuja for the convention, sustained wounds from gunshots and machete after thugs loyal to a factional coordinator of the association in Zone D (Southwest) began attacking delegates.
The thugs, numbering over 20, stormed the venue with dangerous weapons while accreditation of Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents under NANS Zone B and Zone D was in progress.
DSS operatives allegedly arrested the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Azeez Adeyemi, after guns and ammunition were found in a bus belonging to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY). The security agency also arrested other occupiers of the bus who are students’ leaders from Ogun State.
Students (NANS) has elected Sunday Asefon as its new President amid chaos and violence that characterised its convention at the old parade ground, Abuja on Thursday.
Asefon, a civil servant with the Ekiti State Government, got 155 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olushola Oladoja, who scored 100 votes.
GOVERNOR LALONG IS NOT WITHOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALARIES – PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT
In recent days, motorists plying some roads within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis in Plateau State have experienced disruptions arising from blockage of strategic roads within the metropolis resulting to inconveniences and untold hardships. The blockage of the roads is being carried out by Local Government Workers and Primary School Teachers who are said to be demonstrating and demanding for the implementation of the new minimum wage for their members. The Government of Plateau State under the leadership of His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG concedes to the rights of the workers to demonstrate peacefully in line with constitutional provisions in demanding for their rights. However, due to the disruption to normalcy and negative impact on the economy of the State as well as the tendency for the protests to be hijacked by hoodlums and criminals, it has become important for Government to put the records straight and lay the facts in the court of public opinion. This is more so when the demonstrators by their chants and pronouncement are vilifying, castigating and calling His Excellency the Governor unprintable names over a matter that is not directly within his purview, and inspite of his efforts to ensure amicable resolution. In the first place, salaries, emoluments and allowances of Local Government staff and teachers are entirely the responsibility of the Local Government Councils that belong to a different tier of government. This has been reinforced with the implementation of autonomy to the Local Governments in the State in line with recent national developments. Therefore the Governor has no direct responsibility for implementation of the new minimum wage at the Local Government level nor does he possess any fiat to “direct” such payment. Chanting solidarity songs by the affected staff to the effect that “Lalong ka bamu hakin mu” translated (Lalong give us our wages) is highly misplaced and to the say the least mischievous. Secondly, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has consistently remained a labour-friendly Governor comparable to non in the recent history of Plateau State since assuming office in 2015. He did not only pay 8 months’ salary arrears of State workers he inherited from the administration of Governor Jonah Jang, but also paid all withheld allowances under the “No-Work-No-Pay” rule. Today, workers can testify to the fact that he has never owed workers any salary since he took over. Rather, he has ensured that they get their alerts before the 25th of every month. Little wonder, the workers themselves named him “Governor Alert”. To now suggest that this same Governor is withholding the sweat of Local Government staff and teachers (who are being administered by a separate and autonomous tier of government) is most uncharitable and condemnable. Let it be known that when the Plateau State Government began implementing the new minimum wage, the Governor was keen on ensuring that local government staff and teachers are also carried along hence his encouragement of the negotiation process for its implementation in that tier of government. Having noted the delay in concluding negotiations on the implementation of the new minimum wage at the local government level which affected the payment of October and November 2020 salaries, the Governor convened and chaired an emergency intervention meeting of relevant stakeholders on Thursday, 26th November 2020. The meeting which was attended by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and Principal Officers; Chairmen of the 17 Local Governments; and Members of the Joint Negotiating Council (Union and Government sides inclusive), resolved to set up a Technical Committee to ascertain the inflow/outflow of all the Local Governments and make appropriate recommendations that will accommodate the payment of the new minimum wage to the workers at the third tier of government. While everyone (including Governor Lalong) was anxiously waiting for the outcome of this committee’s report, the State Government was inundated with threats of protests, disruptions, campaign of calumny, threats to lives and properties of some senior public servants and even politicization of what is purely a labour matter. This threat was eventually implemented when some of the affected workers embarked on street protests thereby disrupting movement and putting citizens and motorists into sever hardships. Government recognizes the hardship of the workers and genuinely wants to see that the matter is quickly resolved as enumerated above. However, it is not unaware of the politicization of the issue by those who are bent on casting aspersions on the Rescue Administration and also smearing the excellent record of Governor Lalong in attending to the well-being of all workers and citizens. The desperation has gone to ridiculous levels with some even threatening to disrupt the scheduled bye-election for the Plateau South Senatorial District on Saturday 5th December 2020. In the light of the above, Government wishes to appeal to the aggrieved workers to reconsider their actions and allow the Technical Committee conclude its work for further action. They should have a rethink and refrain from being used by politicians and other interests to embark of actions that are not only inimical to the State, but also injurious to their cause. Let them heed the voice of their leaders who are deeply involved in the negotiations and respect the appeal by the Chairman Joint Public Sector Negotiating Team for Plateau State Comrade James Diwa who issued a Press Statement dated 3rd December 2020 wherein he appealed for appealed for calm and suspect all protests as the Technical Committee is working to achieve its mandate. It should be remembered that the State has been struggling with the impact of COVID-19 which has adversely affected the economic fortunes of the State and the nation as a whole. The recent ENDSARS protests and the attendant looting and destruction of public and private properties, as well as the disruption to economic activities also impact the State negatively. Only recently, the country again slipped into a recession thereby creating more uncertainty. With all these challenges, the economy of the State is already fragile and cannot afford further denigration by the disruption of economic activities including blocking of strategic roads that constitute the economic live-wire of the State by local government staff and teachers who are assumed to be fighting for their welfare. While the Government appeals to the protesting workers to show restraint, understanding and embrace peaceful means of ventilating their grievances, it wishes to assure law abiding citizens that it will not fold its arms and see the State being grounded by any individual or group under whatsoever guise. In as much as Government has the duty to listen and look into the plight of its workers, including local government staff (which it has continued to do), it also has the responsibility to protect other citizens who desire to engage in lawful businesses to earn their living. After all, government does not have the capacity to employ all citizens but relies on the private and informal sector to do that. Stopping people from accessing their destinations is therefore an unnecessary affront that should be avoided at all costs.
Dan Manjang Commissioner for Information and Communication Plateau State. 3rd December 2020.
GOVERNOR LALONG IS NOT WITHOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALARIES – PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT
In recent days, motorists plying some roads within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis in Plateau State have experienced disruptions arising from blockage of strategic roads within the metropolis resulting to inconveniences and untold hardships. The blockage of the roads is being carried out by Local Government Workers and Primary School Teachers who are said to be demonstrating and demanding for the implementation of the new minimum wage for their members. The Government of Plateau State under the leadership of His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG concedes to the rights of the workers to demonstrate peacefully in line with constitutional provisions in demanding for their rights. However, due to the disruption to normalcy and negative impact on the economy of the State as well as the tendency for the protests to be hijacked by hoodlums and criminals, it has become important for Government to put the records straight and lay the facts in the court of public opinion. This is more so when the demonstrators by their chants and pronouncement are vilifying, castigating and calling His Excellency the Governor unprintable names over a matter that is not directly within his purview, and inspite of his efforts to ensure amicable resolution. In the first place, salaries, emoluments and allowances of Local Government staff and teachers are entirely the responsibility of the Local Government Councils that belong to a different tier of government. This has been reinforced with the implementation of autonomy to the Local Governments in the State in line with recent national developments. Therefore the Governor has no direct responsibility for implementation of the new minimum wage at the Local Government level nor does he possess any fiat to “direct” such payment. Chanting solidarity songs by the affected staff to the effect that “Lalong ka bamu hakin mu” translated (Lalong give us our wages) is highly misplaced and to the say the least mischievous. Secondly, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has consistently remained a labour-friendly Governor comparable to non in the recent history of Plateau State since assuming office in 2015. He did not only pay 8 months’ salary arrears of State workers he inherited from the administration of Governor Jonah Jang, but also paid all withheld allowances under the “No-Work-No-Pay” rule. Today, workers can testify to the fact that he has never owed workers any salary since he took over. Rather, he has ensured that they get their alerts before the 25th of every month. Little wonder, the workers themselves named him “Governor Alert”. To now suggest that this same Governor is withholding the sweat of Local Government staff and teachers (who are being administered by a separate and autonomous tier of government) is most uncharitable and condemnable. Let it be known that when the Plateau State Government began implementing the new minimum wage, the Governor was keen on ensuring that local government staff and teachers are also carried along hence his encouragement of the negotiation process for its implementation in that tier of government. Having noted the delay in concluding negotiations on the implementation of the new minimum wage at the local government level which affected the payment of October and November 2020 salaries, the Governor convened and chaired an emergency intervention meeting of relevant stakeholders on Thursday, 26th November 2020. The meeting which was attended by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and Principal Officers; Chairmen of the 17 Local Governments; and Members of the Joint Negotiating Council (Union and Government sides inclusive), resolved to set up a Technical Committee to ascertain the inflow/outflow of all the Local Governments and make appropriate recommendations that will accommodate the payment of the new minimum wage to the workers at the third tier of government. While everyone (including Governor Lalong) was anxiously waiting for the outcome of this committee’s report, the State Government was inundated with threats of protests, disruptions, campaign of calumny, threats to lives and properties of some senior public servants and even politicization of what is purely a labour matter. This threat was eventually implemented when some of the affected workers embarked on street protests thereby disrupting movement and putting citizens and motorists into sever hardships. Government recognizes the hardship of the workers and genuinely wants to see that the matter is quickly resolved as enumerated above. However, it is not unaware of the politicization of the issue by those who are bent on casting aspersions on the Rescue Administration and also smearing the excellent record of Governor Lalong in attending to the well-being of all workers and citizens. The desperation has gone to ridiculous levels with some even threatening to disrupt the scheduled bye-election for the Plateau South Senatorial District on Saturday 5th December 2020. In the light of the above, Government wishes to appeal to the aggrieved workers to reconsider their actions and allow the Technical Committee conclude its work for further action. They should have a rethink and refrain from being used by politicians and other interests to embark of actions that are not only inimical to the State, but also injurious to their cause. Let them heed the voice of their leaders who are deeply involved in the negotiations and respect the appeal by the Chairman Joint Public Sector Negotiating Team for Plateau State Comrade James Diwa who issued a Press Statement dated 3rd December 2020 wherein he appealed for appealed for calm and suspect all protests as the Technical Committee is working to achieve its mandate. It should be remembered that the State has been struggling with the impact of COVID-19 which has adversely affected the economic fortunes of the State and the nation as a whole. The recent ENDSARS protests and the attendant looting and destruction of public and private properties, as well as the disruption to economic activities also impact the State negatively. Only recently, the country again slipped into a recession thereby creating more uncertainty. With all these challenges, the economy of the State is already fragile and cannot afford further denigration by the disruption of economic activities including blocking of strategic roads that constitute the economic live-wire of the State by local government staff and teachers who are assumed to be fighting for their welfare. While the Government appeals to the protesting workers to show restraint, understanding and embrace peaceful means of ventilating their grievances, it wishes to assure law abiding citizens that it will not fold its arms and see the State being grounded by any individual or group under whatsoever guise. In as much as Government has the duty to listen and look into the plight of its workers, including local government staff (which it has continued to do), it also has the responsibility to protect other citizens who desire to engage in lawful businesses to earn their living. After all, government does not have the capacity to employ all citizens but relies on the private and informal sector to do that. Stopping people from accessing their destinations is therefore an unnecessary affront that should be avoided at all costs.
Dan Manjang Commissioner for Information and Communication Plateau State. 3rd December 2020.
GOVERNOR LALONG CONDOLES YAHAYA KWANDE OVER DEATH OF SON, ABDUL-NASEER
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong says he received the news of the death of Abdul-Nasser, son of Elderstatesman Alhaji Yahaya Kwande with shock and sadness.
Lalong in a statement to commiserate with the death of Abdul-Naseer said the demise of the gentleman is definitely a huge loss to the Kwande family and the entire people of Plateau State considering his hardwork and dedication.
He said “as a Farm Manager, Abdul-Nasser chose to focus on the most critical occupation that is not only crucial to food security of our State and the nation, but also to job creation and economic prosperity”.
While praying God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest, Lalong called on Alhaji Yahaya Kwande and the entire family to be consoled by the fact that he lived a productive life where he contributed to the development of the State and nation at large.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 3rd December 2020.
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