News

Sacked LG Chairman Returns As Councillor

Published

7 years ago

July 27, 2017

Chairman of the Pankshin Local Government Interim Management Committee, Mr Stephen Jings, sacked on June 29, was on Thursday sworn in as councillor representing Jing ward in the reconstituted IMC.

The Plateau government had dissolved the IMC after serving for two years and reconstituted a new IMC in what Governor Simon Lalong said was part of efforts to breed new ideas into governance.

However, councillors in the reconstituted IMC would receive only sitting allowances, unlike in the past when they received salaries.

Sources indicated that Jings, who was sworn in alongside 18 others by his successor, Mrs. Naomi Golmen, had tried to return as IMC Chairman, but was not successful as stakeholders were divided over his nomination.

“Jings’ candidature caused a hot argument among the stakeholders; the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kamshak Kuden, who chaired the meeting to select one person among the contenders, had to quickly end it to avoid violence,” a source said.

The source said that the selection team was inundated with various petitions, forcing the state government to intervene.

It endorsed Golmen, leaving Jings as councillor under her.