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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Plateau denies non-payment of suspended lawmakers
From Isa Abdulsalami (Jos) and Mohammed Kanu (Bauchi)
THE PLATEAU government yesterday denied that it refused to pay the salaries and allowances of the suspended members of the state House of Assembly.
Also, the state government is now seeking the return of the over 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPS) taking refuge in Bauchi State as a result of the recent civil disturbances.
According to the government, it has become necessary to clarify the issue that all political office holders on suspension have been paid their outstanding salary arrears from March to May 18, 2004.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. John Gobak, disclosed in Jos that those who did not benefit from the disbursement were people who refused to surrender their official vehicles to the appropriate government agency for safe-keeping.
The Emergency Powers (General) Regulations 2004 made pursuant to the Emergency Powers Act 1961 under which the current administration is operating (in section 6 and sub-sections 1, 2 and 3) suspends the political office holders listed therein from office during the period of emergency," he said.
According to Gobak, until the applicable law is changed, the government will continue to be guided by it.
A five-man team led by Prof. Sonni Tyoden of the University of Jos, which visited the displaced persons at their various rehabilitation camps in Bauchi State assured them that the Plateau Sole Administrator, Gen. Chris Alli (rtd.), had ended the crisis in the state.
He told the displaced persons that the Plateau State government had in its efforts to forestall the recurrence of any crisis in the state constituted a peace forum where people aired their views on ways of forging ahead.
Tyoden, who is the Dean Faculty of Social Science of the University of Jos, urged the IDPS to exercise more restraint over the condition in which they found themselves, and praised the Bauchi State government for its humanitarian gesture of hosting them for the past seven months.
The Plateau peace mission team is being led by the Bauchi State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, on a visit to the rehabilitation camps at Unguwar Barno, Baram, Mararraba, Tashar Mai Alewa, Boto and Bogoro in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local councils.
The commission praised the Plateau peace team for the visit to assess the condition of the displaced persons and to persuade them to return to their state.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Katagum in Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Umar, has enjoined the people of his domain to maintain the spirit of brotherhood towards the victims of the Yelwan Shendam crisis taking refuge in the area.
Distributing relief materials to the victims of the crisis residing in the emirate, the emir noted with concern that the Yelwan Shendam crisis had adversely affected the socio economic well being of the affected persons.
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