Speaker Plateau House of Assembly, Mr Abok Ayuba.
By M. Peter – Jos
The Minority Leader of Plateau State House of Assembly, Peter Gyendeng of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has condemned the habit where a section of the House would take decisions on issues not discussed at plenary and present same to the public as the unanimous decision of the 24 Members in the State Assembly.
Gyendeng who is representing Barkin Ladi State Constituency spoke against the recent incident where elected Chairmen of two local government areas, Kanam and Qua’an Pan were suspended for three months for what the Speaker, Abok Ayuba termed as “insubordination” as well as the purported extension of the tenure of four Transition Committee Chairmen in four local government areas where election did not hold as the result of insecurity.
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The Minority Leader who maintained there was the tenure extension was neither presented nor debated on the floor of the House as there was no sitting for the week but the said tenure extension was only announced in the media to the members of the public.
Expressing his displeasure at the trend, he said, “My attention has been drawn to a news item making the rounds in media outfits to the effect that the tenure of the undemocratic management committees in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South and Jos North LGAs have been extended.”
“I wish to state here in unequivocal terms that I, Hon. Peter Gyendeng, member representing Barkin Ladi constituency, am not a party to the said purported tenure extension as the matter was never presented or debated at plenary or at any other place that I am informed.”
“Besides, the Plateau State House of Assembly did not sit during the week under review. So I do not understand whoever came about the purported tenure extension. My position on the matter has consistently been clear: I oppose the setting up of undemocratic management committees in the four affected LGAs(and elsewhere ) and that elections should be conducted with immediate effect in those areas.”
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“I also wish to use this medium to reiterate my stand and dissociate myself from the suspension of the executive chairmen of Qua’an Pan and Kanam LGCs. Let it be known that I vehemently opposed the move but no opportunity was allowed for the matter to be debated at plenary. As a legislator I am conscious of the constitutional provision that empowers State Assemblies to supervise the activities of the LGCs but the power to remove an executive chairman lies with the legislative councillors. My stand is therefore very clear.”
The said suspension is generating heated arguments in the State forcing citizens to chide the State Assembly for taking such unpopular steps.
