Former Chairman of the Pankshin Local Government Interim
Management Committee (IMC) Mr Stephen Jings, sacked on June 29, was on Thursday sworn in
as councillor representing Jing ward in the reconstituted IMC.
Earlier the Plateau government had dissolved the IMC after serving for two
years and reconstituted a new IMC in what Governor Simon Lalong said was
part of efforts to breed new ideas into governance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that unlike in the
past when councillors received salaries, those in the reconstituted IMC
would receive only sitting allowances.
NAN sources indicated that Jings, who was sworn in alongside 18
others by his successor, Mrs. Naomi Golmen, had tried to return as IMC
Chairman, but was not successful as stakeholders were divided over his
nomination.
“Jings’ candidature caused a hot argument among the stakeholders; the
Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kamshak Kuden, who chaired the meeting to
select one person among the contenders, had to quickly end it to avoid
violence,” a source said.
The source said that the selection team was inundated with various petitions, forcing the state government to intervene.
It endorsed Golmen, leaving Jings as councillor under her.
NAN quotes Golmen, in her speech, as asking the councillors to see
their nomination as a call to service rather than an avenue for money
making.
She urged them to keep their constituents abreast of government
policies and strive to gauge their feelings over government programmes.
Prof. John Wade, Director-General, Research and Documentation,
Plateau Government House, urged the councillors and people of Pankshin
to bury their differences and unite toward improving the living
standards of the people. (NAN)