Re- Plateau PDP Crisis Deepens, As Senator ID Gyang Allegedly Stormed Secretariat With Thugs.

Our attention has been drawn to a malicious text by persons whose contemplation and intentions are outrightly mischievous, to the extent of alleging that Senator I.D.Gyang stormed the Plateau State PDP Secretariat with thugs.

It would be recalled that the Senator was at his SA Media and Protocol’s house for the prayer and naming ceremony of his new born baby (Reinhard) before proceeding to the PDP State Secretariat, Jos on Monday 16 Dec 2019.

Ordinarily, the mischievously crafted statement would not have merited a response except for the purpose of setting the records straight in the eyes of the unsuspecting public.

Needless to say that even the inglorious masterminds of this mischief are aware that Senator I.D.Gyang has been in public service for about thirty years, and has been garlanded and reputed as a man of peace and excellence.
As a Political leader, he is not one given to nor associated with thuggery and political banditry, let alone to procure thugs as conveyed and portrayed in the said publication.

Notwithstanding the
underhand tactics and political blackmail which the authors and sponsors of the statement intended, the intimidating profile of the Senator I.D. Gyang the Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Defence cannot be diminished as contemplated.

The action which Plateau North Executive Committee of the PDP took to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon D.T. Sango as State chairman of the party which was subsequently ratified by the State Executive Committee of the party in compliance with Section 47 (6) of the Constitution of the PDP is what is in issue.

The Senator is conscious and responsive to the mandate bestowed on him by the people and shall remain focused on securing the people, reconciling the people and empowering the people of Plateau North.
He shall therefore not be distracted by neither mischief nor blackmail.

Furthermore, our principal the Distinguished Senator remains committed to the collective interest of the PDP family in the state and shall not subscribe to anything to the contrary.
Senator I.D Gyang will always stand with the people and for the people.

Hon. Musa Ashoms
SA Media and Protocol
To Senator I.D. Gyang
Plateau North District

                   
DIRECTORATE OF PRESS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, PLATEAU STATE
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
GOVERNOR LALONG SYMPATHISES WITH VICTIMS OF MINING PIT COLLAPSE
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has sympathized with the families of victims who died as a result of the mining site collapse in Zawan, Jos South Local Government Area on Wednesday 18th December 2019.
Governor Lalong says he is saddened by the death of the young citizens whose lives have been cut short as a result of the tragic incident.
He commiserates with their families and describes the development as unfortunate.
The Governor also directs the Ministry of Mineral Development to immediately investigate circumstances leading to the tragic incident for proper actions to be taken.
He similarly directs the State Ministry of Health to give the injured victims adequate attention and the very best of care possible.
Lalong says the State Government is working to integrate artisanal miners into the licenced and regulated mining programme that adheres to strict procedures in order to avoid such occurrences in the future.
He also warned against illegal mining in the State which he says does not only put the lives of people at risk, but also leads to loss of revenues accruing to Government.
The Governor says henceforth, the Ministry of Solid Minerals and relevant agencies must step up supervision of the sector to ensure that all safety standards are adhered to.
 
Dr. Makut Simon Macham ANIPR
Director Press & Public Affairs, Office of the Executive Governor
Plateau State.
19th December 2019.
 
 

HIDDEN AND SELFISH AGENDA OF SOME ELDERS OF CENTRAL SENATORIAL ZONE EXPOSED…..the following elders have been link to a plan to deny central zone governorship position, Chief John Mankilik, Chief Emanuel Mangny, Mr David Paradang, Hon Emmanuel Go’ar, Senator Mantu, are planing against the central senatorial zone.

BY CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS OF PLATEAU CENTRAL SENATORIAL ZONE:,

OUR POSITION……….

As critical Stakeholders of Plateau Central Senatorial Zone who believe in the unity of plateau people comprising of Political leaders,traditional rulers, Tribal community Development and Youth Associations of the Zone, have been watching with keen interest the unfolding events in the PDP in Plateau State of late and deem it necessary to clearly state our position regards the happening in PDP particularly on replacement of the immediate past State Chairman of the Party Hon DT Sango, following his resignation earlier this month.

We are aware that the former Chairman Sango, handed out power to his Deputy Hon Amos Gombi, to hold forth pending when Party stakeholders from Plateau North Senatorial Zone will elect and present to SEC a replacement that will complete the tenure of Sango/Plateau North Senatorial Zone in line with SECTION 47(6) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017.

We are also aware that there is an existing zoning arraignment in the Party prior to the last State Congress that Plateau North Senatorial Zone will produced the State Party Chairman which saw the emergence of Hon DT Sango and the Southern Senatorial Zone to produced the 2019 Governorship Candidate of the Party which also saw the emergence of Lt Gen Jeremiah Usieni, setting in motion a smooth zoning arraignment that will come to an end in the next few months.

Even before yesterday’s affirmation by the SEC of Hon Chris Hassan as the new State Chairman of the Party, the general consensus especially within the Party is that Plateau North Senatorial Zone will be allowed to present someone from the Zone to complete Hon Sango’s tenure in line with the existing zoning arraignment and also the Constitutional provision to pave way for the rotation of positions in the Party which will see Plateau Central Senatorial Zone produced the PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2023 God’s willing.

But in a rather unfortunate and disappointing manner when everyone especially from the Central Senatorial Zone was expecting Stakeholders from Plateau North Senatorial Zone to elect and present to SEC, Hon DT Sango’s replacement in line with Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution,these mentioned elders are pushing Hon Amos Gombi for the personal hidden agenda against the zone in flagrant disregard and disobedience to SECTION 47(6) of the Party’s Constitution and with the support of few selfish Elders like Mr John Manklik, Mr Monday Jatau, Mr Emmanuel Mangni, David Paradang and Hon Emmanuel Go’ar, who are on a desperate mission for political relevance and selfish interest threw caution to the gutter and decided to pursue a self serving agenda of pushing Gombi, to mischievously wrestled the position of the State Party Chairman from Plateau North Senatorial Zone and add it to the position of the Party’s State Deputy Chairman in a move to pave way for Sango’s ambition for Governor come 2023,this is indeed a brazen display of illegality, impunity and alarming greediness.

The sole aim of their selfish destructive thirst for power is to alter the already existing zoning arraignment that will see Plateau Central Senatorial Zone produced the PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2023, which is not in tandem with their agenda of having the former State Chairman Hon DT Sango, from Plateau North Senatorial Zone as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2023.

How can Plateau Central Senatorial Zone —-KANKE LGA/ NGAS NATION, currently occupying the position of the Party’s State Deputy Chairman add it with the State Chairman and again produced the next Governorship candidate of the Party while the other Zones watched helplessly?
When did we( Central Zone) conquered the Northern Zone to wrestled the position of the State Party Chairman in contravention of SECTION 47(6) of the PDP Constitution?

It is very clear that Gombi, and his co-travellers are all out to provoke the Plateau North Senatorial Zone that is the bedrock of Plateau PDP currently with a Senator, Two House of Representatives Members and Five State House of Assembly Members to go against the gubernatorial ambition of Plateau Central Zone in 2023.
How can GOMBI/KANKE LGA, that failed woefully to deliver PDP in all the elections in 2019 allowed to illegally grab power from the Plateau North Senatorial Zone that won every election in the 2019 general election?

Everyone can now see that Chief Mankilik, the leader of this movement has been hosting meetings in his house to perfect Gombi’s becoming the state acting chairman there which they have alter the zoning arrangement by asking him Gombi to contest for the chairmanship of the party next year. and his clique are clearly pursuing an interest detrimental to Plateau Central Senatorial Zone and Plateau State PDP as a whole.

Their ultimate aim is to distort the existing zoning arraignment to caused serious disunity, confusion and crisis in the Party a situation they always liked and thrive on as we have not forgotten how the same Gombi, fought Hon Letep Dabang, in his futile attempt to destroy APC at its earlier stages until he was pushed out of the Party before sanity was restored and the same thing he is repeating now in PDP.

As consciously minded Stakeholders from Plateau Central Senatorial Zone interest in the peaceful coexistence, tolerance, harmony, understanding and love amongst Plateau people, we want to state categorically that Hon Gombi and the few selfish Elders from Plateau Central Zone and his Ngas ethnic apologies contracted to destroy the 2023 Governorship ambition of Plateau Central Zone are alone and on their own without the support of any reasonable person from the Zone.

On this note we want to assure the people of Plateau Northern Senatorial Zone and the new State Chairman of our great Party PDP Hon Chris Hassan of our support. And will always uphold and defend the existing zoning arraignment in the Party in the interest of peace and unity of our Party and State in general.

It should also be noted and is on record that, the said elders are already working for the interest of their own biological children, example , chief Mankilik is working for his son who is currently a member of APC, contested for house of representative in 2019.
Mantu is also working for his son for house of representative come 2023, while chief mangny is working for his friend Sango to be the next governorship flag berer of the party.

Finally, we want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the SWC, SEC and genuine Party Members in the State for the position taken inline with the constitution of the party,this indeed shows the patriotism and committed in you towards the course of uniting plateau people and task of returning the party to the path of stability.
We will continue to believe, support and pray for the party and our elected leaders under the party.

The central zone is watching with the role of these people and will act at the appropriate time.

Signed…

Mwangvwat Daniel…

Obadiah A Markus…

James Moltok Matthew..

Pastor Sebastian Ishaku Aranga.

For and on behalf of the people of plateau central senatorial zone.

Copied……..

President Donald John Trump has been impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by the House of Representatives.

This makes him become the third president in US history to be impeached.

The House of Representatives voted almost entirely along party lines — 230-197-1 — to charge Trump with abuse of power, and it followed it up with a 229-198-1 vote to charge Trump with obstruction of Congress.

The votes mark the culmination of a rapid three-month inquiry into allegations that the President pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals while withholding a White House meeting and $400 million in US security aid.

Democratic leaders said the President also obstructed the investigation into his misconduct with a blanket blockade of subpoenas, refusing to allow key senior officials to testify before Congress.

Trump has said he did nothing wrong in his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that there was “no pressure whatsoever.” He has called the impeachment inquiry “the greatest hoax,” lashing out at Democrats, the media and the anonymous whistleblower who submitted a complaint to the intelligence inspector general.

However, the Republican-controlled Senate will hold a trial to consider whether he should be convicted and removed from office.

In continuation of his inspection of on-going Legacy projects across Plateau State, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has visited more project sites to ascertain the level of work being carried out.

Governor Lalong in company of his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Gwanle
Tyoden and other top government officials visited the Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory in Mangu Local Government which is almost completed.

The Governor who was taken round the facility was informed that the Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory is meant to produce quality variety of seedlings that are resistant to diseases that are currently ravaging the crop in the State.

The facility will also provide the platform for educating farmers in the State on various ways of value addition to the potatoes for
preservation, and export.

The Governor expressed delight at the facility which he said was part of the grand design to usher in a new phase in potatoes farming in Plateau State which is a crop that the State has comparative advantage in, but has not been able to maximize its advantage.

He said “when I laid the foundation for this facility, I stated clearly that we have to take the production of potatoes beyond where it is today. We have to produce all year round and add value to it for domestic consumption and export. The situation where we farmers produce potatoes that is wasted or sold at giveaway prices does not help us because we lack capacity for value addition. This has to change as we must create more jobs for our youths and increase the earning capacity of farmers”

The Governor was also at the Panyam General Hospital Legacy Project site where he inspected on-going work at the site. He was told that the project was slowed down because of compensation issues.

Governor Lalong was not happy with the development and directed the Local Government Chairman and the traditional ruler of the area to ensure that such issues do not arise again because government decided to site the project in the area based on the request of the people and after due consultation.

He said “we want to complete the project during our tenure to avoid the problem of abandoned projects. We decided to complete the projects we inherited, but you can’t be sure of what those coming behind us will do. They may not focus on it if we don’t complete it which will become a waste while the
people continue to suffer”.

Another Legacy Project visited by Governor Lalong was the Technical School Construction at the Government College Pankshin which is meant to transform the school to its original status of a technical institution since
it was initially a Craft School.

He was happy that the work has gone up to 60 percent and expressed hope that it will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2020.

Lalong emphasized that “we are determined to entrench technical education in our educational system in order to develop skills that are needed to empower our youths and turn them into entrepreneurs and job creators rather than job seekers. When we do that, we are sure of eliminating poverty and crime and enhancing peace”.

The Governor addressed the students of Government College
Pankshin to pay attention to their studies as the future of the State and the country depends on them.

In the spirit of the yuletide season, Governor Lalong donated
two cows to the students.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of
Plateau State.

SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE INSTALLATION & PRESENTATION OF STAFF OF OFFICE TO NDE WESLEY E. MULLAK, LONG MISHIP AS 2ND CLASS CHIEF OF MISHIP CHIEFDOM; HRH. MISHKOM YUSUF WALE FWANGBRING, MISHKOM MUPUN AS 2ND CLASS CHIEF OF MUPUN CHIEFDOM; HRH. RUDENGMA LAWI BULUS LIKEN, RUDENGMA KADUNG AS 3RD CLASS CHIEF OF KADUNG CHIEFDOM; HRH. GWOLONG NANLENG YUSUF GUTUS, GWOLONG TAL AS 3RD CLASS CHIEF OF TAL CHIEFDOM; HRH NDE LAMGOCHA D. TARAR, NGOLONG PAI AS 3RD CLASS CHIEF OF PAI CHIEFDOM HELD ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2019 AT PANKSHIN MINI STADIUM.

PROTOCOLS
1. We are gathered here today for this very special occasion which is to present Staff of Office and install Traditional Rulers for five Chiefdoms. They include:
i). HRH Nda Wesley Mullak, the Long Miship as a 2nd Class ruler of Miship Chiefdom
ii) HRH Mishkom Yusuf Wale Fwangbring, the Mishkom Mupun as 2nd Class ruler of Mupun Chiefdom
iii) HRH Rudengma Lawi Bulus Liken, the Rudengma Kadung as 3rd Class ruler of Kadung Chiefdom
iv) HRH Gwolong Nanleng Yusuf Gutus the Gwolong Tal as 3rd Class ruler of Tal Chiefdom
v) HRH Nda Lamgocha D. Tarar, the Ngolong Pai as 3rd Class ruler of Pai Chiefdom.
2. Looking at the large turnout of people here and the excitement on their faces, there is no doubt that this is indeed a day that was anxiously awaited.
3. We are therefore happy to bring to you an early Christmas gift as we install these five traditional rulers and present them with the Staff of Office to enable them exercise their authority.
4. This event is significant to us because of the fact that it is the fulfilment of one of the promises we made during the campaigns.


5. Although many of our political opponents thought we were just using it as a campaign tool, you nonetheless gave us the benefit of the doubt and re-elected us into office overwhelmingly.
6. Let me therefore use this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for giving us your votes and reposing your confidence in the Rescue Administration. We promise to make you proud just as we are doing today.
7. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an event that is very important to the people, just as it is to Government because of the important role the traditional institution plays in the affairs of our State and the nation in general.
8. Since we began the second batch of installations last week Friday at Izere Chiefdom of North Local Government, I have continued to emphasize that the decision to restore and create Chiefdoms and Districts is part of our effort to ensure peace and development.

9. This is because people have been yearning for this development for a long time and the longer their aspirations are left hanging, the more frustrated they become.
10. As a listening Government that respects the wishes of the people, we cannot close our eyes nor shut our ears to these agitations even as we seek to consolidate peace in the State.
11. While I congratulate the traditional rulers for this elevation, I wish to remind them of the task before them and the expectations of both the people and Government.
12. You are the custodians of the culture, heritage, values and identity of your people and you must ensure that you enhance it rather than allow it die in your hands.
13. Leadership demands sacrifice, patience and vision to work for the good of others rather seeking personal gains. You must make the welfare of your subjects paramount at all times.


14. The Government will be relying on you to maintain peace and security in your domain by deploying your structures to mediate and resolve conflicts before they get out of hand.
15. You are to also work closely with security agencies within your domains and members of your traditional councils to anticipate, detect and nip in the bud any attempt to cause a breach of the peace.
16. It is only when there is peace that we can rapidly implement our 3-point policy thrust of Peace Security and good Governance; Infrastructural Development; and Sustainable Economic Rebirth.
20. Our desire in creating and restoring Chiefdoms and Districts in the State driven by the quest to give everyone a sense of belonging as provided by the constitution of our country.
21. Therefore, anyone who has any complaint against the installation of new traditional rulers in the State should channel his grievances properly rather that resort to cheap political propaganda.
21. Let me therefore call on traditional rulers in the State to continue to mobilise, sensitise and unite their people towards taking advantage of various government initiatives aimed at empowering them for more productivity.
22. We are opening up Plateau for business and more people are coming into the State to invest. We must create the right environment for them so that our youths can get jobs while our economy grows.
23. Finally, I call on all the sons and daughters of the five Chiefdoms to support their traditional rulers in settling down and providing leadership that promotes development.
24. They are human and prone to make genuine mistakes, but you need to pray for them and offer them constructive advice rather than criticise and seek to pull them down.
25. Once more I congratulate you and wish all of us a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor, Plateau State
17th December 2019.

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), on Tuesday, announced that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will by12:00am Wednesday, open its portal for fresh recruitment.
The process which will see 3,200 officers and men fill existing vacancies is expected to last for the next three weeks.
Ali, represented by the acting Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), Human Resources Development, Sanusi Umar, while speaking at a briefing at the NCS headquarters in Abuja, said the recruitment exercise got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and is in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
“We are actively engaged with the Commission to ensure that the process will earn a certificate of compliance on merit,” he noted.
The recruitment will be conducted to fill 800 space in the Support Staff for Superintendent Cadre category, while the 2,400 space will go for Customs Inspector and Customs Assistant Cadre in the General Duty category.
A web portal for applications has been created as a sub-domain of the NCS website.
The NCS boss urged interested Nigerians to visit http://www.vacancy.customs.gov.ng to apply.
Candidates are expected to fill necessary details once the portal becomes function by midnight.
“We are determined to conduct an exercise that is credible, fair and transparent. We will deploy all machineries within our powers to ensure that the integrity of the exercise is not compromised.”

Plateau State House of Assembly on tuesday passed the 2020 appropriation bill of over N177.3 billion into law .
This followed the report by the House Standing Committee on appropriation, presented at plenary by it’s chairmen, Hon. Yahaya Adamu.
It would be recalled that Governor Simon Lalong had on November 26, presented over N172.5 billion to the assembly as budget for the 2020 fiscal year.
The budget tagged “Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural Consolidation”, had over N98 billion as recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure would gulp over N74 billion.
The Assembly, on December 3, passed the budget to second reading and committed the bill to its standing committee on appropriation.
According to Adamu, the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state had defended their proposals before standing committees of the house.
“Mr Speaker, you will recall that this house committed the 2020 appropriation bill to the committee on appropriation, after it was presented on November 26 by the governor.
“After intense scrutiny of proposals of MDAs by various standing committees, this committee wish to recommend that the sum of over N177.3 billion be approved as the budget size for 2020 fiscal year.
“There is an addition of over N5 billion as recommended by this committee, against the initial figure of N172.5 billion as presented by the governor,” he said.
The chairman explained that the addition was appropriated for the state Road Maintenance Agency and for the legislative arm of the state.
Adamu further said that the committee urged the state government to ensure timely and constant release of funds for overhead and capital projects by MDAs, as provided in the budget.
He also said the committee called on government to lift embargo on employment, to close the gaps existing in the civil service.
The chairman stressed the need for MDAs to to step up their game and be proactive so as to generate more revenue for the state.
The House later approved and passed the appropriation bill through a voice vote.

There is every reason to celebrate Senator Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka, the representative of the Plateau Central Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
Dimka has been doing well in providing quality representation to the people of the zone and recently he vowed to continue to do more .
Speaking recently , the Senator said he would work to attract federal projects to his zone.
Dimka said he will not take for granted the decision of the people of his constituency to elect him in the 2019 elections.
He said he had devised a mechanism to ensure that the dividends of democracy were delivered to members of his constituency.
Our correspondent also takes a look at his recent tour of the district to meet his constituents, taking into consideration their needs and where the Chairman, Senate Committee on Narcotics and Drugs has always wanted to take them to.
There are times in most constituencies in the Nigerian political space that the voters wish they had given the mandate to a different person other than the person in power. Reason: The doors are always shut on them as soon as the elections are over; but only to return as another election approaches to canvass for votes.
A number of such representatives believe that the Nigerian electorate would always be on their side, for as long as the depths of their pockets are able to contend with their needs. Or at best their positions could be consolidated by any other means than the usual. Democracy has since gone beyond this stage. A number of constituencies have lived with these absurdities over time. While some have gotten used to it; a number have woken up to the realities that modern democracy is about people and meeting their needs.
A representative performs only to the extent that his support base is people-generated; short of it means the journey hasn’t started. The people’s total abhorrence to stick to the ways of the past is understandable; indeed, we are in an age where working with the people is not to be disparaged.
No doubt the people matter, as they set the tone of the journey. The constituents are desirous of constant quality interactions with their representatives, even as they know that doing so enables them chart the course they have always wanted for their communities to move forward.
It is in regard of the above that the Thank-You-Tour embarked upon by Senator Hezekiah Dimka to his District, Plateau Central is situated.
Those that he needs to return to thank are in various categories. There are local government chairmen, party officials and members, traditional rulers and religious leaders, stakeholders, women, students and myriads of youths who sweated to make the dream come true. But apart from that, he needs to further establish and build new relationships with other people in the district. He never took that for granted.
The tour which started on Friday, November 29, 2019 was carefully planned to meet with the people that make the zone: Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam, Mangu and Bokkos. The return to say, ‘I am grateful for the mandate you have given me, I have returned for more inputs for the journey’; is instructive on several fronts.
Knowing Senator Hezekiah A. Dimka as we all do, he would have since returned to the people to thank them. We can however quickly hazard three major reasons for the delay: One, he needed to settle down to understand his assignment in the National Assembly and two; there were litigations on the election from his major political contender at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal; and three, there was a budget for the country to be handled and completed by the Senate.
The hurdles have been crossed and all distractions put aside; now it is time for serious legislative business that would put the business of the people as the major plank of his agenda. That is one of the major reasons for his return to meet his constituents and listen to their cries.
On the day that the tour began, @YoungLeadersNet in a tweet, significantly in agreement with the senator’s initiative wrote: ‘Town hall meetings are important for constituency growth, never demean it, ask for it with your legislators’. Now we know as Joseph Stalin once said that ‘ideas are more powerful than guns’ and such are the ones that will rule the world.
The initiative in many respects is an idea which time is now. The fact that the people should drive the mandate with him only goes to prove that those who underestimate the power of the electorate do so only in so far as they are no longer interested in it. The person under review desire to use power for the sake of those that gave it to him.
The Plateau Central Senatorial District among others has lots of projects that need to be revisited, and these were some of the myriads of requests that were handed to Senator Dimka. Take for instance the Panyam-Bokkos-Wamba road and the Gindiri Water Dam, where both projects have, despite swallowing so much money are not at any level near completion. Despite repeated assurances for their execution, we are where we are for no known reason.
The tour took him also to Kanam, Kanke and Pankshin apart from Bokkos and Mangu, where the people came out in large number to receive him under various platforms in the areas. He attended to the needs of several people, wards and LGA executives of his party, stakeholders and communities in various forms; while assuring them of continued assistance where he can.
In Kanam for instance, he was told that since the return of democracy in 1999, no Senator had returned to thank the people so earlier as he did. He set a record, for being the first to do so. Whether it was in Kanam, Kanke, Pankshin, Mangu or Bokkos, he had a message for the enthusiastic party supporters and stakeholders: Be united, believing a greater central zone district is possible through our resolve.
These are critical projects that would impact on the state and its people, therefore whatever is genuinely needed to ensure their completion should be identified and pursued. The funds that have been paid out in the past are enormous enough to be left to go down the drain. Much more, the economic benefits that could accrue therefrom should not be lost on us.
There are other concerns that trouble the zone to the point that the people feel they may have been neglected. A concerted effort to redress them is not an idea that would be toyed with, hence the visit to listen to the voices of his constituents; who feel and naturally should be beneficiaries of any federal or state project.
It is reason why to establish that linkage between Abuja, where he is with the constituents, the need for a Constituency office is paramount for effective discharge of his legislative work. For now, complaints that affect the people would be channeled through the newly inaugurated office located at Pankshin, the zone’s headquarters. The initiative to build an office, six months after inauguration cannot be anything but setting a pace; Nothing can be more appreciative to the zone than for constituents not to travel the long distance to Abuja for either consultations or issues that pertains them.
There are numerous aides who have been appointed to man several areas of the needs of the people of the zone, who would compile such concerns for the Senator’s attention. They all have a responsibility to drive the process of helping him meet the expectations of the people through the senator. To be fair, that is how democracy works and should be in order to sustain a workable relationship between his office and the people. It is not for fun that he is one of the few senators who have a functional constituency office; as several others don’t currently. It is for this same reason that some senatorial districts in Nigeria would not get adequate attention of the services of their representatives, so long as there is no one to stand in the gap between them. In some cases, seeing such representatives is like passing through the eye of the needle.
Not for Senator Hezekiah Dimka, as he has repeatedly assured the people that they should not lose sleep over any genuine issue that affects the zone. The fact that there are numerous assistants in charge of their welfare is enough reason to know that he won’t toy with the mandate, which was freely given to him.
If anything, the tour has afforded him the opportunity of coming face to face with victory and how the people would want him to manage it. If, as he saw, the sheer large number that genuinely turned out is a representation of their expectations. He can only be truthful by opening his doors to their expectations.
Gone are the days when representatives take their people for granted and expect that they cannot be taken to task.
It is another new dawn; an era that not all the needs of the people can be met, but efforts are made to listen to them through visits and town hall meetings to discuss how the zone can move forward. Even as he is determined as always, Senator Hezekiah Dimka, who derives strength from the people of the zone’s contributions, will stop at nothing to drive their enthusiasm to reality, by working assiduously for their communities to be developed as others.
If by reaching down to lift his people is anything to go by, we can be sure that there is a purpose in Senator Dimka’s politics. The office has not changed him; rather the purpose is to drive the zone and give the people a voice.
Senator Dimka concluded his visit in Pankshin with the inauguration of a five man 2019 Christmas Celebration Committee for each of the five LGAs. He called on the committee members to exercise the fear of God, equity and justice in the exercise of their responsibilities for which the assignment demands of them.

Source:Viewpoint

Speech by his Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the signing into law of the 2020 Appropriation Bill. Presidential Villa, Abuja. Tuesday, December 17, 2019

PROTOCOLS

1. It is my pleasant duty, today, on my 77th birthday, to sign the 2020 Appropriation Bill into law. I thank the National Assembly, in particular, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and indeed all the Distinguished and Honourable Leaders, and Members, for passing the 2020 Appropriation Bill, expeditiously.
2. You will recall, that I laid the 2020 Appropriation Bill before the Joint Session of the National Assembly on 8th October, 2019 and forwarded the 2019 Finance Bill shortly thereafter.
3. I am very pleased that the National Assembly worked uncommonly long hours in the interest of our people and the national economy to ensure detailed legislative review and passage of the Budget within two months.
4. This patriotic zeal adopted by the Ninth National Assembly has restored our budget cycle to a predictable January to December fiscal year.
5. Furthermore, in the twenty years since the return to civilian democracy, this will be just the fourth time that the Federal Budget was passed before the end of the previous year, and this is the earliest.
6. The passage of the Finance Bill, which I am told will be done in the coming days, will also be a landmark achievement worthy of recognition, being the first time, this has been done in the last twenty years.
7. We look forward to receiving this Bill, shortly, for Presidential Assent. Once passed into law, the Finance Bill will support the funding and implementation of the 2020 Budget. We shall sustain this tradition by ensuring that subsequent budgets are also accompanied by a Finance Bill.
8. For these achievements, I must therefore congratulate and thank the Distinguished Senate President, the Right Honourable Speaker and indeed, all members of the Federal Legislature for their commitment and support.
9. I equally thank the Ninth National Assembly for supporting important legislations such as the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Act and the 2019 Finance Bill. These laws are vital to the successful implementation of the 2020 Budget.
10. I am aware of the regular high-level discussions that took place, between senior officials of the Executive and the Legislature during this period. I commend this renewed partnership, the mutual understanding as well as collaboration between these two arms of government.
11. Now, we are well positioned to effectively implement the budget and deliver our promises to Nigerians. Businesses will also benefit as they are now in a position to plan more effectively.
12. We have to sustain this harmonious working relationship. I expect that, going forward, this will be the norm.
13. I have directed that efforts be made to ensure the presentation of the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in September 2020. I am confident that all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies will cooperate with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to keep to this timeline.
14. I will work with the Ninth National Assembly to give effect to the constitutional, legislative and other actions that may be necessary to address the various challenges currently associated with our federal budgeting process, including the enactment of an Organic Budget Bill.
15. The 2020 Budget passed by the National Assembly provides for aggregate expenditures of Ten-point-Five-Nine-Four Trillion Naira (N10.594 trillion), an increase of Two Hundred and Sixty-Three-point-Nine-Five Billion Naira (N263.95 billion) over the Executive’s Proposal that was submitted in October 2019. We have examined the adjustments and may revert to the National Assembly with a request for a Virement or other relevant amendments.
16. The Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning will make a public presentation of the details of the approved budget.
17. With today’s global oil market outlook and our strategic approach to revenue growth, we are optimistic that we will be able to finance the 2020 Budget.
18. However, being a deficit budget, an appropriate 2020 – 2022 Borrowing Plan will be forwarded to the National Assembly, in due course.
19. Mr. Senate President, Right Honourable Speaker, for this submission, I will once again count on your usual cooperation and support by ensuring quick consideration and approval of the Plan.
20. To optimize the desired impact, I have directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and all Federal MDAs to ensure effective implementation of the 2020 Budget.
21. I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Budget Office of the Federation, and all stakeholders, who collaborated and worked painstakingly, to produce the 2020 Appropriation Bill, that I have just signed into law.
22. I thank you most sincerely for your kind attention.
23. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.