Group Knocks Plateau Assembly Over Poor Performance

A group, Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), has expressed disappointment with the performance of the Plateau State House of Assembly under the leadership of the speaker, Hon. Gabriel Dewan.

PIDAN is the umbrella organisation coordinating the activities of over 56 ethnic groups in Plateau State.
In a communique at the end of their quarterly meeting held at the Plateau State Polytechnic Jos campus and signed by Prof. Aboi Madaki, president and Comrade Nanle Gujor, secretary-general, respectively, they also frowned at the piecemeal swearing-in of members into the legislature in the absence of discernable reasons for such actions.

According to the communique, the council observed that the leadership structure of the assembly flagrantly abused the “PIDAN Equity in Governance Strategy 2018”, and carries with it the potential to return the state to the political equity confusion as witnessed in 2015 before the general elections.

“Council noted the presence of available ranking legislators in the Southern Zone and wondered why the speakership of the House of Assembly was not allowed to be occupied by a legislator from that zone in keeping with the “PIDAN Equity in Governance Strategy 2018” prescription on zoning of such political offices.”

It advised the House leadership to abide by the PIDAN Equity in Governance prescription, which aligns with the arrangement designed to strengthen political equity and unity in the state.
PIDAN appreciated the excellent work by African Services focusing on helping Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with livelihood support and noted with deep appreciation the significance and magnitude of such support in the state’s Mangu and Bokkos LGAs.