Plateau Assembly – Executive Feud Worsens As Legislators Barred From Visiting Government Agencies

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State, Politics Thursday, June 26th, 2014

From Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

The attempt by the Plateau State House of Assembly to beam its searchlight on the activities of the state government has again hit a brick wall as the executive has issued yet another memo, barring its Ministries and agencies from giving access to legislators investigating alleged financial misappropriation by the State Government.

The latest move which is perceived in some quarters as a slant to arm-twist and frustrate the state legislative house from performing its oversight functions, was contained in a memo issued from the office of the state Commissioner for Transport, Abubakar Dashe, informing the house of its non-readiness for investigation, unless he receives approval from the State Governor, Jonah Jang.

The House committee on transport had earlier written the Ministry, notifying it of its plan to visit and the mission.

The memo which was titled: ‘Re: Working Visit’, and made available to African Examiner in Jos yesterday, reads in part: “Referring to your letter dated 17th June 2014, I am under instruction to write and inform you that the Honourable Commissioner has written to government house for clearance but has not been cleared”.

“We appeal you shift the proposed visit pending when we get the clearance from government house” stated the memo.

It would be recalled that the Secretary to the State Government, Professor. Shedrach Best, few weeks ago issued a memo, restraining all civil servants and Government appointees from appearing before the House, without clearance from the Governor.