By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The embattled Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Hon. Joshua Ubandoma Laven on Saturday on accused Governor Simon Lalong of being responsible for lack of payment of workers salary in the Council.
He also said he has six courts judgements against the state government, challenging the “illegal and forceful” termination of his tenure, but the governor has deliberately refused to grant him access to the council secretariat to complete his one year tenure.
Laven disclosed this while addressing journalists in Jos, the State Capital.
According to him, he has written to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to pay the local government workers, but government has refused to honour the request.
The chairman who had frozen the Local Government’s account based on court judgments in his favour, wrote in June and August, 2022 for government to release funds and pay worker of the Local Government but the state government has remained adamant.
“My victory in court is a victory to democracy in Nigeria, I can assure you that the precedent I have lay down on the Plateau save the present clueless APC administration in the state for imposing all local government chairmen without election.
“Governor Simon Lalong is poise to destroy the Tarok nation, he is poise to destroy the hard earned democracy that he is enjoying because there was no vacancy on in Langtang North when the purported election was conducted.”
Laven noted that because he is a law abiding citizen of Nigeria, he allowed the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to conduct the election which was contested only by the APC and urged the Governor to pay workers their salary.
“I am disappointed in Lalong and I am saying that the Governor should release the salary of workers in Langtang North, the court has ordered for the release of the salary and I have given my consent to it.
“Langtang North people should hold the Governor Lalong responsible for any break of law is is because the court orders and the judgements are very clear so he should obey, I am not fighting a personal fight.”
The chairman also revealed that there is a plot to assassinate him and member representing Langtang North/South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Beni Lar by unknown persons and said the matter has been reported to the police.
