Jang pledges detailed handover, denies looting allegation

GOVERNOR Jonah David Jang of Plateau State has promised to do a comprehensive hand over of government property and inventory details to the incoming administration of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Reacting to allegations of looting of government property and other anomalies made by the State Chairman of the APC, Chief Latep Dabang, Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Muhammad Abubakar Badu said “the Governor has already directed all ministries, parastatals, departments, and agencies of government to submit their hand over notes latest this week.”

Badu also pointed out that “it is in furtherance of this that government set up a transition committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Shedrack Best, to ensure proper handing over to the next administration.”

Badu also revealed “the governor –elect has also submitted names of those to represent the in-coming administration in the transition committee,” summing it as “an act of good faith and exercise in transparency.”

The commissioner however, enjoined on all to remember and acknowledge that “government is a continuous process, and that the day-to-day running of the administration will continue until its termination on May 29, 2015.”

Badu said it would also be recalled “at the conclusion of the recent general elections, the state government issued a statement, which among other things, congratulated all winners of the various elections, and appealed for unity and reconciliation among citizens to enable the state to forge ahead.”

Dismissing the allegations by the APC as unfounded, baseless, and unfortunate, Badu warned, “This is certainly not the time to play politics. All hands must be on deck to ensure that we succeed in the task before us.”

Earlier, the Governor-Elect, Simon Bako Lalong, had said his attention has been drawn to “worrisome reports bordering on the concluded plans to hurriedly sell off Government properties particularly the Plateau Supply Company Ware House and Mini Housing Estate along Dogon Dutse Road, PIPC Duplexes in Gwarinpa, Abuja and other locations, the looting and carting away of government properties including vehicles, household furniture and other items; the ongoing massive and lopsided employments, replacements, falsification of civil service placements and promotions in the civil service which are not in conformity with laid down regulations and procedures as well as huge and questionable withdrawals from government accounts and demands for loans as well as the illegal engagement of accounting and auditing firms to balance the books of accounts of agencies of government used for the funding of elections of government sponsored candidates.”