Plateau govt warns of stiff penalties for violators of COVID-19 protocol

By Israel Joel

Plateau state government on Thursday  said it will not relent in bringing to justice any individual or group of persons, who violates the laid down  protocol  aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.

The state government further said that  the Simon Lalong led  government would continue to prioritise the health and safety of Plateau people in the face of rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.

They said EXCO was briefed on the upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the State and resolved that there shall henceforth be exercise of prosecution order to deal with violators of the guidelines for the pandemic. For the time being, there is no contemplation of lockdown of the State therefore , the denial of the existence of COVID-19 in Plateau State will henceforth be criminalised.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communication Dan Manjang together with his colleagues for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs Sylvanus Tapgun, Chrysanthus Ahmadu Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Regina Soemlat, Commissioner for Finance, and Engr. Sunday Hyat, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works gave highlights of the decisions reached at the meeting.

Manjang said  that EXCO also mandated the reawarding of contracts for some road projects earlier revoked. They include Tahoss/Ganawuri Road; Mangu bye-pass road; Shinkwan/ Tunkus/Shendam bye-pass as well as the rehabilitation of Kwande Biem-Biem road formally awarded to PW.

Also approved is the supply of official vehicles for various Government officials who have not been given official cars since they were appointed over one year ago.

The council also gave approval for an Executive bill to be sent to the Plateau House of Assembly plateau State on the creation of the Plateau State Investment Promotion Council.

To facilitate better pursuance of the Rescue Mission, council also inaugurated sub-councils arising from the Executive retreat earlier held in the year which will henceforth

deliberate on memos before being taken to EXCO. They include Shared services; Human capital; Economic and finance and Physical Infrastructural Development.

On the implementation of the new minimum wage at the Local Government level, Council frowned at the way Local Govt Staff have resorted to intimidating, blackmailing and threatening the State Government over the wages of another tier of Government.

The Council reafirmed that it is the sole responsibility of the Local Governments to hire, fire, renumerate and discipline their employees based on their terms.

The Council advised Local Government Chairmen to take responsibility of negotiating with their staff now that they are fully autonomous.

Council frowned at the manner the Local Government workers have taken for granted the magnanimity and benevolence of the Governor to intervene in the negotiations by not only turning down various options to resolve the matter, but going ahead to blackmail the Governor and other State Government officials.