In carrying out his constitutional duties, the Executive Governor Of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Lalong, swore-in new members Plateau State
Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and Plateau State Judicial
Commission (PSJC). These moves kick start the process of granting to
the people of Plateau State the constitutionally provided right to chose
for themselves managers of their commonwealth at the third tier of
government and also to help in the administration of the judiciary in
the State respectively.
Below is the speech of the Governor during this very important occasion.
ADDRESS OF GOV. SIMON LALONG, WHILE SWEARING-IN PLASIEC AND THE STATE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION (SJSC).
PROTOCOL
Today ( Tuesday, 28th November, 2016 ) we are gathered here as citizens of our State and as living
witnesses of the Swearing-in of members of two of the three statutory
Commissions, that by the requirement of the 1999 Constitution as
Amended, are to be established for each State.
It would be recalled that on the 12th October, 2016, in pursuance of,
and in the exercise of the Powers conferred on me by Section 198 as set
out particularly in Section 197, Paragraphs 3 and Paragraph 5, as well
as the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2011;
I
forwarded to the House of Assembly, the names of the under listed
persons for confirmation of their appointment into the Plateau State
Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC);
- Mr. Fabian Ntung – Chairman
- Comrade Patrick Mamgin – Member
- Mr. Joshua Pefun – Member
- Dr. Steven Hirse – Member
- Mr. Peter Adala – Member
- Mr. Lamidi Tangenze – Member
- Mrs Hafsatu Hassan – Member
- Mr. James Dashan – Member
And for the Plateau State Judicial Service Commission (SJSC);
- Bar. Stephen T. Abar – Member
- Barr Tony Y. Agaga – Member
- Mrs Eunice Ayisa Sambo – Member
- Hon. Benshak Dalop – Member
The other statutory members of the Commission as constitutionally set
out by their Ex-officio Status in Paragraph 5 Part II of the Third
Schedule are;
- The Chief Judge of the State as Chairman
- The Attorney General
- The Grand Khadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal
- The President of the Customary Court of Appeal
These members who have now been sworn in consequent upon their
confirmation by the State House of Assembly, have fulfilled the
requirements of Law as constitutionally enshrined for such appointment.
I have taken time to outline the constitutional provisions that have
guided the composition and inauguration of the members of the Two
Statutory Commissions, so our citizens can see that we are compliant.
Further to this is the fact that we need to understand as citizens, that
to every act of Governance and the conduct of Government, the
activities of Government are guided by a clear understanding of the
conditions that must be precedent and subsequent in her compliance of
that Law.
These are no doubt periods of great expectations and indeed
anxieties; a reason for which ever since the dissolution of Local
Government Council Executives, by this Administration, citizens had
looked forward to the constitution of the PLASIEC to give a ray of hope,
that the third tier of Government would soon be governed by
democratically constituted Executives.
It is needful to mention that notwithstanding the fact that the issue of
the dissolution is still subjudiced, the Constitution of these two
Commissions today has been guided by the Statutory effusion of the
tenure of members of the last commission as enshrined in the
Constitution, and our unflinching desire to constitute all statutory
outlined commissions of Government.
I have no doubt in mind that the swearing-in today, offers to our
citizens the desired hope, that we are committed to not only conducting
within the stipulation of time and compliance of the Provision of Law,
elections into Local Governments, but that we are also committed to
setting in place a democratic structure, that will guarantee transition
and succession, from one democratically elected Local Council Executives
to another.
We are not talking election for democracy but democracy for election;
this is the reason why we have ensured that the edict of PLASIEC is
being amended, and all the necessary aspects of human and material
resources are mobilized, to ensure that the process of a credible,
acceptable, free and fair election is conducted into the Local
Government Councils. To us as a democratic Government; a credible
election will be one that is characterized by inclusiveness,
transparency, accountability, competitiveness, participation and
conducted by an unbiased electoral management body.
Our citizens will no doubt be itching to know when the council election
will be conducted. Our response will simply be at the time the
stipulation of time for the activities of the Commission by the Law is
fulfilled beginning from today, being the day of the Swearing-in, and
the level of preparedness of all the relevant Arms and Agencies of
Government stipulated in Law for the conduct of the election. Like I
mentioned, it will simply be the fulfillment of all the conditions
precedent to the election and the preparedness of all these relevant
Agencies to meet up with all the conditions subsequent to the election.
By this statement, it is my expectation that the PLASIEC will be
addressing all stakeholders and in fact all citizens of our State as
they settle to business immediately. I need to mention to all our
Politicians who will seek to build political capital manipulatively out
of the innocence and in some point ignorance of some of our citizens,
that when they say the constitution enshrines a provision for
democratically elected councils at all levels, they should be honourable
to inform the people that beginning today, the PLASIEC assumes her
independence as constitutionally enshrined by the same Constitution. So
now, I await the independence of her decisions as it pertains to her
activities, particularly the conduct of the Local Government Elections.
The State Judicial Service Commission (SJSC) is also coming in at a very
critical time in the global war against corruption. Plateau State has
signed up for this war publicly and we are prosecuting the war
purposefully. In the last two weeks and infact only as recent as
yesterday, I took the leverage to address the Nigerian Bar Association,
Jos Branch; the Inner Bar, the Official Bar and the Bench in attendance
at the 19th Justice Dauda Azaki Memorial Lecture, on the devastating
effect of corruption in our Nation.
We set out a clear charge for the Judiciary, to rise up to the challenge
and do the needful, in giving our country hope, in the incorruptible
discharge of their duties. As members of the Judicial Service
Commission, whose constitutional mandate entails the exercise of the
powers to recommend for appointment, or to appoint, dismiss and exercise
disciplinary control over Judicial Officers, your integrity has been
upheld by this appointment and it is now being put to test. Our State
will be watching to see whether you are part of the problem or solution,
to the myriad of problems we are facing as a Nation because of
corruption.
May I re-emphasize to all the Sworn-in members of the Commissions here
today, that going by your appointment, you have been found to be mature
in age, sound in mind, experienced and persons of integrity, befitting
to be a member of a State House of Assembly. The implication of this is
that, you represent collectively the best of Judgment of the Plateau
State House of Assembly. I can assure you that the House will ever be
willing, to invoke the same powers acting on my recommendation, if you
put their integrity to test. You cannot afford to fail, because your
integrity is at stake, likewise the integrity of the House and the very
people you represent. The collective expectation of our State is that
you will excel, this should not be dashed by you as individuals or as a
group.
As I draw this speech to a close, I urge you for your own good, the good
of our citizens and the good of posterity, to be compliant with the
sound dictate of your conscience and the requirement of law, in the
discharge of your duties. As you make sincere efforts, God will help you
to succeed.
Finally, I want to thank the Rt. Hon. Speaker and Honourable Members of
the Plateau State House of Assembly, for the timely screening and
confirmation of the members. May I also request that you conclude on all
matters of law awaiting passage, for the effective execution of the
duties, of the members of the Commission.
Plateau is on the march to greatness and a new dawn is setting; with
patience, and sustained partnership in this social contract with our
people, we will get to our destination.
Thank you and God bless Plateau State.
Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor
