APC JIBLIK AND LANKAN FED WARDS IS SET TO WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS LED BY PROF PATRICK DAKUM

Preparations are on top gear across the four State Wards in Mupun Chiefdom  as the ALL PROGRESSIVE'S CONGRESS in Pankshin Local Government Area is putting finishing touches preparatory to welcoming new and returning members to the Party.

The Returnees, who had before the 2023 General elections pitched their tents with other political Parties have decided to return back home to support the RENEWED HOPE AGENDA of President BOLA AHMED TINUBU and to add more Strength to the APC in Plateau State.

Professor Patrick Sunday Dakum and his Supporters will be joyfully received in a grand style on Wednesday  28th May, 2025 by the State Ward Chairman of the APC in Jiblik Ward Mr Deschen Wamtwas alongside the Acting State Ward Chairman of Lankan Ward Mr Pannan Elisha.   Mr Patrobas Bangs and Mr Ishaya  Dokpan, the respective Federal Ward Chairmen of the two federal wards and a host of other APC Local Government and State Executive  Members by 1 Pm at  ABWOR DYIS.

To this effect,the  A.P.C, in Mupun Chiefdom after a critical Stakeholders meeting  held today 23rd May, 2025  set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of Elder Godwin Mweltok and Hon Gungret Neple as Secretary to organise a befitting reception in honour of the returnees and the expected new members. 

Below is the full list of Members of the  Reception and Organising committee.

1) Elder Godwin Mweltok (Chairman)

2) Hon Iliya I. Datom (Deputy Chairman)

3) Barr Mweldi Kang'ar Dapus ( Member)

4) Hon Manasseh Ali  (Member)

5) Hon Solomon Sale (Member)

5) Mr Hilary Godwin D. (Member)

6) Hon Geoffrey Pofung (Member )

7) Mrs Janet  ShakonTupkop  ( Member)

8) Hon Benjamin Dabi (Member)

9) Hon Maksen Dakwo (Member)

10) Mr Manji Sabo Henry ( Member)

11) Mr Nanpan Kilobas (Member)

12) Mr Panden Hassan (Member)

13) All APC State Ward Chairmen in Mupun Chiefdom (Members)

14) All APC State Ward Secretaries In Mupun Land (Members)

15) All APC State Ward Women Leaders in MUPUN land (Members)

16) All APC State Ward Youth Leaders in Mupun Land ( Members)

17) All APC LGA Excos in Mupun Land (Members)

18) APC State Assistant Financial Secretary (Member)

19) Hon Gungret Neple ( Secretary)

Signed:

Mr Patrobas Bangs ( APC Chairman Jiblik Federal Ward)

MR Ishaya Dokpan (APC Federal Ward Chairman Lankan Ward)

Mr Deschen Wamtwas (APC State Ward Chairman Jiblik Ward)

Mr  Pannan Elisha

(APC Acting State Ward Chairman Lankan Ward) 

Elder Nanle Gujor 

( APC Stakeholders Leader ,Mupun Chiefdom)

GOV. MUTFWANG LIFTS MINING SUSPENSION ON 159 COMPANIES IN PLATEAU STATE

Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has announced the partial lifting of the temporary suspension on mining activities in the state. Exactly five months after signing Executive Order 001 of 2025 on February 21, 2025, the governor revealed that 159 companies have been cleared to resume operations.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Old Government House in Jos on May 23, 2025, Governor Mutfwang emphasized that the initial suspension was necessary to address security concerns, reform the mining sector, and protect the environment. The governor expressed concern over the growing number of young people abandoning education to engage in artisanal mining, exposing themselves to exploitation, drug abuse, and life-threatening health risks.

Cleared Companies

The 159 companies cleared to resume operations include:

- 6 Mining Licenses

- 15 Small Scale Mining Leases

- 15 Exploration Licences

- 5 Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Permits

- 1 Quarry Lease

- 118 Tin Sheds/Buying Centers

Governor Mutfwang warned that any operator or individual who has not been cleared by the Committee must stay away from all mining sites, as the suspension remains fully in effect for non-compliant operators. The list of compliant operators will be published, and cleared operators are directed to collect their letters of clearance from the Office of the Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development.

The government plans to:

- Formalize Artisanal Miners: Initiate the process of formalizing artisanal miners into cooperatives to secure the supply chain and ensure better oversight and compliance.

- Train Artisanal Miners: Establish a Gemstone Skills Acquisition Centre to train youths in safe, modern, and sustainable mining practices.

- *Protect Children*: Arrest and sanction parents or guardians of underage children found at mining sites instead of being in school.

The governor thanked the public and security agencies for their cooperation and emphasized that the suspension remains in force for non-compliant operators.

FOSIECON Conference Calls for SIECs' Autonomy and Electoral Reforms

The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has issued a communique at its 13th National Delegates' Conference held in Jos, Plateau State, from May 20-23, 2025. The conference, themed "Local Government Elections in Nigeria; Issues, Challenges and Opportunities," brought together chairmen, members, and secretaries of State Independent Electoral Commissions from 27 states.

The conference recommended:

Administrative independence and financial autonomy* for SIECs to strengthen their capacity to deliver on their constitutional mandates.

Regular public engagements with election stakeholders to build confidence in SIECs' ability to organize credible and transparent local government polls.

- *Political parties* should evolve mechanisms for emergence of leadership of proven integrity, while the electorate should review the activities and performance of their representatives for accountability.

Extension of legal and institutional reforms that strengthened INEC's operation to SIECs for optimal performance.

State legislatures should adopt relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 on procedure of conduct of Area Councils Elections to evolve uniformity and certainty in electoral procedures

The conference concluded that SIECs have come to stay and any call for their scrapping is mischievous and anti-Federal Constitution of Nigeria. Despite current challenges, SIECs are poised to serve the grassroots electorate as a viable platform for democratic leadership recruitment at the local government level.

SEN LALONG JOINS NORTH CENTRAL APC STAKEHOLDERS AS THEY ENDORSE PRESIDENT TINUBU FOR SECOND TERM.

Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State was among top APC stakeholders who met in Abuja where they among others endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The endorsement followed a careful analysis of the President's performance and special attention to the north Central Zone in the past two years.

In a communique, signed by Governors of Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Secretary to Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume and Senator Simon Bako Lalong, leader of APC in Plateau State and Minister of Special Duties Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo FCT APC leader, the stakeholders expressed deep appreciation for his intervention in infrastructure projects, education, power, agriculture, security, job creation among others.

They also acknowledged the appointment of various sons and daughters of the zone into positions of government which shows his passion for development, equity and fairness.

They therefore passed a vote of confidence on the President and described his administration as one which has proven to be willing and ready to give the people of the zone and Nigerians at large dividends of democracy.

They also passed a vote of confidence on the APC national leadership under its Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for promoting internal democracy, party unity and progressive governance.

Senator Lalong who was the Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council in the last elections described the stakeholders meeting as fruitful and the decision to endorse President Bola Tinubu for second term as most appropriate and deserving.


Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Special Adviser Media to Senator Simon Bako Lalong, Plateau South Senatorial District.
22nd May 2025.

ASUCA PROTESTS APPOINTMENT OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AS PROVOST/CEO IN FEDERAL COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, IBADAN

Walbe OGAK

The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) has expressed strong objections to the recent appointment of a University Professor as the Provost/CEO of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan. According to the union, the appointment contravenes the advertisement for the position, which specified that only Assistant Directors, Associate Professors, or Principal Lecturers from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) were eligible.

In a press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, Plateau State, the Acting National President of ASUCA, Comr. Williams Manggoel, stated that the appointment would cause brain drain and demoralize academic staff in FCAs. He also noted that the union had previously objected to the appointment of University Professors as Provost/CEO in FCAs in a letter to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in 2020.

*DEMANDS*

The union demands the immediate reversal of the appointment and the appointment of the best and qualified staff from FCAs/NARIs who attended the interview. ASUCA also demands the withdrawal and correction of the advertisement for the position of Provost/CEO of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, to indicate that only qualified academic staff in FCAs and NARIs are eligible.

Furthermore, the union demands that the ARCN provide evidence of efforts being made to update the Scheme of Service (SOS) and Condition of Service (COS) for FCAs and related institutions, which has been delayed since 2020.

*IMPLICATIONS*

The appointment of University Professors as Provost/CEO in FCAs would undermine the career progression of academic staff and create unnecessary tension and instability within the system. The union's demands aim to protect the autonomy and unique identity of the Colleges of Agriculture and ensure that leadership emerges from within the system.

YOUTH OF PANKSHIN NORTH CALL ON BLDR. RAPHAEL RUME

In a time when Pankshin North yearns for true representation, the youth are rallying behind a leader who embodies integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service - Bldr. Raphael Rume.

We believe Bldr. Rume's impactful leadership and vision for a brighter future make him the ideal candidate to represent Pankshin North at the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Join us in calling on Bldr. Raphael Rume to throw his hat into the ring and lead Pankshin North to a new era of prosperity and progress!

#BldrRaphaelRume2027

#PankshinNorthDeservesBetter

#LeadershipForThePeople

#YouthForRume"

PROF. PATRICK DAKUM TO RETURN TO APC

Professor Patrick Dakum, the 2023 Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State and CEO of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, will join the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 27, 2025. This decision follows extensive consultations with his campaign organization, Consolidation for Greater Plateau, supporters, and stakeholders.

According to Shabul Mazadu the Media Consultant to Prof. Dakum, his return to the APC is reportedly due Labour Party's Leadership Crisis,  the party's national leadership quagmire threatens its existence and progress and the PDP decline, 

Noting that the Peoples Democratic Party's fast-sinking as seen happening and situations at national and state levels.

He further said Dakum's alignment with the APC's health initiatives, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's health reforms is also a motivating factor.

Shabul noted that the ceremony will take place at the APC Secretariat, Jing State ward, on May 27, 2025. Noting that Dakum's Personal Assistant, Hon. Jonathan Gukut, and the Consolidation for Greater Plateau invite all APC and Labour Party members, critical stakeholders in Pankshin South, and Plateau Central Senatorial Zone and Mupun land (Jiblik, Langkang, Kagu, and Jing Ward) to witness the event.

As the CEO of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Professor Dakum has made significant contributions to the country's public health sector. He previously served as Commissioner for Health and Information under the Plateau State government led by former Governor Joshua Dariye.