APC To Jang: Shelve Recruitment Or Face Probe

The All Progressives Congress in Plateau State has said it would be compelled to investigate the activities of Governor Jonah Jang should he continue to embark on what it called unwarranted policies geared towards leaving heavy burden for the incoming administration. The leadership of the APC in Plateau State told journalists in Jos on Monday that sources close to the activities of government have revealed that the state government has commenced indiscriminate recruitment of staff and replacement of retiring staff barely six weeks before the Jang administration. The Eagle Online can report that since the coming of Governor Jang Administration in 2007, there has been no employment or promotion in the state. Rather, thousands had been laid off. The state Chairman of the APC, Latep Dabang, said the party is not comfortable with the “hasty recruitment” exercise embarked upon by the state government at this critical moment. Dabang said it is being done in bad faith “since the exercise did not follow due process and meant to leave a burden for the incoming government. “While governance is a continuous process, the incumbent government should ensure the smooth take-off of the new administration without any form of rancour. “It has come to our notice that about 6,800 people cutting across Ministries and Departments and at the state university, that the lists have been sent to the Civil Service Commission for the execution of mandate. “Are these actions not wicked with grand design to set booby traps for the incoming government? “Six weeks to the exit of the Jang government does not provide justifiable reasons to embark on major policy decisions and execution like recruitment with attendant financial implication. “The APC as a party has a clear policy on employment, empowerment and engagement of citizenry. “We do not need an outgoing regime to do any of these policy focuses for us and without due consultations with the incoming government.” Dabang also lamented the intention to create districts/village areas, Chiefdoms and Development Areas, adding: “Since there are court cases on the creation of these administrative institutions, any action by the government is sub-judicial. “Above all, the law establishing these institutions is still extant and not repealed. “In the light of the above, there should be no further arbitrary expenditure except for some running cost of governance. “There should be no award of new contracts, no interviews for recruitment, no Districts, Village Areas, Chiefdoms and Development Areas should be created, modified or announced since no wide consultations and mandate of the people were sought.” When asked if the party was going to probe the administration of Jang, Dabang said. “As our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, keeps saying that he will not probe any body, but will draw a line and look inward, we will not probe Jang, but draw a line and look inward. “But should he force us to embark on certain action, we will take actions to investigate and know if things were done rightly.”