Plateau State: Gov. Muftwang Swears in New Permanent Secretaries

The Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has sworn in four new permanent secretaries into the State Civil Service while restating his commitment to ending the continuous spate of attacks on some communities in the State.

Mutfwang gave the assurance on Wednesday at the Government House, Jos, the State capital.

“We have taken some steps and put some measures in place. I like to promise Plateau people that the situation would be arrested.

“I have had some interactions with President Bola Tinubu. He assured me of assistance with the necessary support to find lasting solutions to insecurity in Plateau,” said the governor.

According to him, he will also have some deliberations with the newly appointed security chiefs, as part of the efforts towards tackling the challenge.

The governor explained that in furtherance of his commitment to urgently address the issue of security, he had appointed a Special Adviser on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Gakji Shipi, based on his professional competence and passion for Plateau State.

He said that Shipi was sworn in with the new permanent secretaries to enable him immediately swing into action of organizing the State security assets and deploying them to address the problem.

“Even last night, I regret to say that we have lost 14 people. Before I was sworn in, Mangu and parts of Riyom local government areas have been coming under severe attacks.

“In Mangu alone, we have buried over 150 people, and as I am talking to you, probably about 16 to 20 villages have almost been pulled down.

“We are not fighting for any tribe or religion. Every inch of Plateau is dear to us and we will fight to protect it,” he said.

Mutfwang urged Plateau people to put aside their differences to ensure peace in the State, which he said was crucial for progress.

He appealed to residents in the State to respect the culture and customs of their host communities; and also charged traditional leaders at all levels to detect early warning signals of conflicts in their domains and take the necessary measures to avert such.

The governor charged the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries with being diligent to duties and delivering effective service.

He said that their appointments were necessary to fill in existing vacancies, rebuild confidence in the service by reinvigorating and repositioning it for accelerated development.

Mutfwang described the appointments as deserving, based on their track records and experience, adding that there would be more of such appointments in the coming days.

The governor, who announced that he was reshuffling the offices of the permanent secretaries, urged them to discharge their duties responsibly in any office they were posted to.

“Every office you hold is for public trust,” he stressed.

Responding on behalf of the appointees, Mr. Nanman Kparbong assured the governor that they would discharge their duties to the best of their abilities.

The permanent secretaries sworn in were Helen Chundusu, Roseline Dakwar, Joel Tahvan and Nanman Kparbong.

The governor recently voided the appointment of permanent secretaries done between January and May 2023, and directed the affected persons to revert to their former positions.

NAN