PROTOCOL
Distinguished ladies and
gentlemen, today is a remarkable day, because it goes further to show our
commitment as a government, to ensure probity, accountability and transparency
in the act governance.
It will be recalled that since
assumption of office, the APC Rescue Government in the State under my
leadership, has not failed to repeatedly reiterate our desire to ensure that
the past administration, is made to give public account of its stewardship in
the State.
This became a necessity, which
out of duty and a good conscience we cannot afford to ignore, given the
magnitude of information at our disposal; beginning from the submission of the
transition committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Gwanle Tyoden
and the various ministerial verification committees, as well the preliminary
audit and accounts reconciliation committee information before government,
which revealed huge debts inherited from the last administration. This past one
year facts are daily denied, twisted and distorted; This is indeed worrisome.
It is the belief of my administration that only after facts are publicly
obtained and tested, will the truth be brought to bear on the issues agitating
the minds of Patriotic Plateau People, hence the new line of action.
Further to this is the fact that
our citizens, acting on the strength of the mandate given to us, have
repeatedly called out for a review of the activities of the past
administration, on the strength of what we have placed in public domain, in our
bid to get our people understand the level of challenges we are confronted
with. As a responsible government, we cannot afford to ignore this deafening
call, which for all intent and purpose are justified.
I must state, like I have done in
my several addresses to the State, that what seemed a delayed action concerning
the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry, is certainly not a delay, but a
deliberate line of action which takes cognisance of the fact that
investigations by Anti – Graft Agencies are process driven, and that the bureaucratic
compilation of government documents and facts that will be pleaded before any
Judicial Commission, must follow the process of law, in line with whatever
legal relationship that Government would have entered into with any Person,
Group, Institution or Agency of Government.
Having done this, we are now set
to begin a process that would allow every Plateau person, the opportunity to
objectively assess how the commonwealth of our State and the affairs of
Government were administered.
Make no mistake, our desire to
right wrongs and improve on the state of Governance, is a function of our
review of the past, assessment of the present, and a plan for the future. We
are sure that the combination of hindsight, insight and foresight will take us
to our destination.
I must state unequivocally that
the constitution of this Commission of Inquiry, is certainly not for
persecution but for us to set a solid foundation for the pursuit of that which
will guarantee the prosperity of our people. It is also not a witch-hunt but a
hunt for that which has probably been hidden from our citizens.
Corruption in all its
ramification stagnates and in fact retards development; every leader worthy of
the people’s mandate is therefore under the compulsion of duty and conscience
to ensure that it is checked, this is one of our modest attempt in ensuring
this.
I dare to say like Thomas Paine,
that Public Trust ought to be held with the most scrupulous conscientiousness
of honour; this is why today, through this public declaration of purpose, I
have inaugurated this Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which on the one hand,
will look into the activities of the past administration, while on the other
hand, it will also serve as a caution sign and clarion call to political office
holders and civil servants as well, to know that we will at the end of our term
be called upon to also give account of our stewardship; and by the same
parameter with which we assess others, we also are setting the parameter upon
which we will be assessed. This is the conviction and consciousness with which
this commission has been inaugurated.
May I assure the citizens of
Plateau State that the members of this commission have been carefully chosen;
their credentials have proven them worthy, having been adjudged worthy in
character, cognate experience and soundness of mind, to carry out this
commission. The Chairman, being a Justice of the Court of Appeal, understands
the practice, application and interpretation of law; this I am sure he will
lavishly bring to bear in the administration of the Commission, to guarantee
the successful execution of the terms of reference. Other members of this
Commission have earned their place by all standard and measure. I want to sincerely thank you all for
accepting this responsibility.
I implore you in the execution of
the responsibility before you not to allow the tyranny of circumstances, and
unsolicited cacophony of public commentary, which seems to traditionally
suggest that the past be over looked, to limit you in performing to the letter
the task before you. If we must get it right and we must be determined to get
it right, and like David Viscolt said “if you get the courage to begin, you
have the courage to succeed”
Together with you, we have
summoned enough courage to begin and Plateau is looking up to us. As we
meritoriously deliver on this assignment, we will be taking our place in
history, and our service will no doubt stand to our eternal credit.
It is on this note that I as the
Executive Governor, invoking the provision of Section 2, of the Commissions of
Inquiry Law Cap 25 of the Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 which enables me to
establish and constitute, to ascertain or establish facts, bringing truth to
bear on matters of public concern and interest, that I have on this 8th day of
August 2016, executed an Instrument whereby I established and constituted a
six-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry made up of the following;
a. Justice Stephen Adah JCA -
Chairman
b. Prof. Mrs. Bibiana Bawa -
Member
c. Barr. Aliyu Sangei - Member
d. Prof. Ekoja B. Ekoja - Member
e. Engr. Simon Onu Agamah -
Member
f. Alhaji Sani Yahaya Mavo is to serve as
Secretary to the Commission.
The Terms of Reference given to
the Commission are:
1. To ascertain all financial transactions,
done or entered into by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria or through
any of its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals,
Institutions or officials, acting in its name from the 29th day of May 2007 to
29th May 2015.
2. To ascertain and establish all financial
allocations, funds, grants or monetary interventions and revenues which accrued
to or in the name of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria directly or
through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals,
Institutions, Officials or Agents from the Federal Government of Nigeria or any
International Institutions or Donor Agencies from 29th May 2007 to 29th May
2015.
3. To ascertain and establish all loans
granted to or obtained by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria directly
or through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals,
Institutions, Officials or Agents from any public institution(s),
organization(s) or individual(s) from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015, and the
purpose for which such loans were obtained and whether the loans were used for such
purpose.
4. To ascertain whether any property
(corporeal or incorporeal) belonging to the Government of Plateau State or any
of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals and Institutions
were sold or in any way concessioned to any person(s), institution(s),
government official or agency by any Government Ministry, Department, Agency
(MDAS), Institutions or officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, the
process or procedure followed to carry out the sale or concession and whether
the proceeds of such sale or concession were paid into appropriate Government
coffers.
5. To ascertain whether any property or
properties (corporeal and incorporeal) were purchased or acquired for or in the
name and/or on behalf of the Government of Plateau State or any of its
Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals or Institutions between
29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, the process or procedure followed to carry out
such purchase or acquisition and to trace and obtain all documents relating to
such transactions as well as establish their values and locations.
6. To ascertain
i. all contracts awarded by
the Government of Plateau State or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies
(MDAs), Parastatals or Officials between 29th May 2007 and 29th May 2015, the
process or procedure followed in the award of such contracts, the value of each
contract (including any variations and whether such variations were necessary
and done in good faith), the level of execution or completion of each of them
and the amount paid to the contractor as at 29th May 2015.
ii. If any contract was awarded
at an inflated cost and to determine what should have been the actual cost of
the contract.
iii. If any contract has been abandoned,
the amount paid for any such abandoned contract, and the amount required to
complete the contract.
iv. If payments made to any
contractor were in keeping with the pace of work on the project and if not, to
ascertain the difference.
v. If the contract was executed
in accordance with its tenor.
7. To ascertain
i. The total amount paid by the
Government of Plateau State as salaries and allowances of serving and retired
State Civil Servants, Local Government Employees and Political Appointees from
29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015;
ii. Whether any person or employee of Government
or any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Parastatals, or
Institutions received multiple payments or salaries or pensions, and the role
played by any person(s) toward such payments; and
iii. The total difference in terms of
figures between the actual payments made in the name of salaries or pensions
and what should have been paid by Government for that purpose.
The Commission has three months
from the date of its inauguration within which to submit its report or within
such period as is extended by me depending on the circumstances.
I am confident that members of
the Commission will find sufficient grace, wisdom and strength to deliver on
this task. With the prayers of the people of Plateau, I am sure this assignment
will be done to the glory of God and the benefit of humanity
Thank you and God bless Plateau
State.
Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor
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