Plateau Councilors Forum Rejects Suspension by Gov. Mutfwang, Says it Cannot Stand
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The National Councilors Forum of Nigeria, Plateau state chapter, has stated that its illegal suspension by Governor Caleb Mutfwang led administration cannot stand the test of time, saying they are going to reclaimed their mandate through lawful means.
The Plateau 325 Local Government Councilors also accused members of the State House of Assembly over deliberate conspiracy to truncate their tenure midway.
Recall Governor that Gov. Mutfwang suspended 17 Local Government over their inability to gave account of certain finances under their watch and directed them to hand over to Directors of Personnel in their respective local governments.
Addressing newsmen in Jos the state capital on Monday, Hon.John Dashe, chairman Plateau state chapter, National Councilors Forum of Nigeria, acknowledged by virtue of the constitutional provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria it is legislative council that is bestowed with the responsibility of checkmating the running of local governments, not State Assembly.
“For the avoidance of doubt, although we have not been served as Legislative Councils in the 17 Local Governments with any official correspondence with regards to our suspension WE HEREBY REJECT the resolution passed recommending or advising our suspension by the Plateau State House of Assembly and its purported approval by the Governor.
” All the 325 Councillors who constitute the Legislative Councils allegedly suspended in the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State emerged out of democratic elections conducted in accordance with Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 7(2) of the Plateau State Local Government Law 2016 and that of PLASIEC Law 2011.
“We are ready to challenge through every lawful means these illegalities being perpetrated against us and call on the Inspector General of Police through the Commissioner of Police Plateau State and all Security Agencies to resist lending aid to the perpetration of these illegalities and we ask for protection in the course of the discharge of our lawful functions at our Chambers of the Legislative Councils in the 17 Local Government Areas because we have no means of using any brute force except the force of the law.
“We are willing to attend to any lawful investigation of financial impropriety by the agencies with the mandate under the law should it be considered necessary,” Dashe noted.
