Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba recently spoke to our Acting News Editor, Bulus Gambo and the House of Assembly Correspondent, Pauline Dallong on his achievements in the last one year. Abok also unfolds plans to help his immediate constituency in no distance time. Excerpts:
YOU have been the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly for sometime now, can you share with us some of your experiences.?
I give God the glory, the journey has been quite challenging, I have been studying the system all this while. As you know, I am a first timer in politics, I have never occupied a key position like this, before I went into politics, I was a civil servant with the Plateau State judiciary.
Actually, what I did was to subject myself to learning, by asking questions from colleagues, former Speakers, and senior officers of the state House of Assembly.
Plateau State is fortunate to have a sitting Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who was a Speaker of the House before me, this became easier for me to operate smoothly on the tenets of the Plateau State House of Assembly affairs.
How can you describe the relationship between the legislators and the executive arm of the Plateau State Government?
Well, our relationship has been a cordial one between the three arms of government, particularly in the smooth running of government affairs and discussing on meaningful things that would move the state forward.
Plateau State is lucky to have Governor Simon Lalong who has virtually worked with all the three Arms of the Government. As the former Speaker, a lawyer by profession and Governor of the state, this has placed him at an advantage on how to govern the state.
Governor Simon Lalong has just celebrated 5 years in office, why do you think Plateau people should appreciate the efforts of the executive governor in the area of service delivery to the state?
When Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong came in to office in 2015 as the governor of the state, it was a kind of rough and a challenging moment in the beginning of his tenure, but what made him excel in his administration was the fact that, he had the interest of his people at heart. He immediately swung into action by putting things in order by paying all outstanding salaries of civil servants, pensioners and other outstanding payments.
You can attest to the fact that today, Plateau State is having a new look in terms of development, through roads construction, street light projects and the ongoing Lalong legacy projects across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He is very passionate to complete the ongoing projects in the state, he has been working tirelessly to sustain the peace in the entire state, despite security challenges.
When he came into power, the first task before him was to complete projects of his predecessor, before embarking on his own project which he did.
What are some constituency projects you have done so far?
As a member representing my constituency Jos East, it is normal for a legislator to have what we call a constituency intervention.
So far, we are yet to receive money for constituency interventions but hopefully, this year 2020, we will be due for constituency interventions, but before then, I have started little by the renovation of a primary school in Maigemu, re-roofing the roof, and the plastering work. I think, very soon, the project would be commissioned. Another project work in Zandi, a three bedroom flat is under construction for a Primary Health Care (PHC), which would also be completed soon.
We have contributed from our salaries to also assist people in my constituency to help meet up their needs in different ways of human endeavours.
I want to assured you that, my constituency intervention money would be put meaningfully into projects that have direct bearing on the lives of my people. By next year, you would see improvements through these projects in my constituency, Jos East.
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has hindered us from carrying out our constituency projects, I believe we are gradually overcoming CORONAVIRUS in the state and beyond, but people have to adhere to the preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus.
Plateau State has witnessed some pockets of attacks, what is the position of the House to addressing the issue of in security in the state?
Yes, what has bothered us in the House and the entire state is this security challenges, our first assignment as House members was to create a working synergy with all the security agencies in the state to help in combating attacks and crimes.
However, a committee was setup to look into these security challenges; we members are working tirelessly to see how we can overcome the menace. No state can progress with security challenges, indeed, we are not happy about the killing of citizens in the state, many are displaced from their ancestral homes and this sad development is stopping investors from investing in our dear state.
The House has set up a committee to interface with the Commissioner of Police and the Commander, Operation Safe Haven to fashion out ways to curtail these security challenges and also; we intend to pay a courtesy visit to the Police Commissioner, where I think it would be an opportunity for the committee members to present pressing issues about the security challenges in the state.
On this note, I want to comment the Executive Governor, he has been doing well in the security management of the state and on our own part, as legislators, we are ever ready to compliment his efforts in providing an enabling environment for the citizens of the state through making laws for the state, to protecting lives and property.
What is your position on the bill signed by President Muhammad Buhari on the autonomy of state legislators?
The process of autonomy started way back, I think during the time, that Governor Simon Lalong was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Chairman of the entire Speakers Forum of Nigeria. They started the process, he fully understands why the legislators and the judiciary should be autonomous.
Earlier before now, we have been in critical discussions with the Governor on the autonomy of the state legislators. Covid-19 has hindered the process, if not, Plateau State could have been the first state to sign the bill into law.
The autonomy of legislators and judiciary is a welcomed one, this would give room to operate smoothly to fast track legislative processes to strengthen legislative procedures for the development of democracy.
What kind of leadership quality do you intend to bring to bear which would make Plateau people see reasons to appreciate your leadership style and would impact their lives positively?
I appreciate my colleagues for the understanding, eversince we came in, we have collectively work together, keeping away partisan politics, we focus on things that would bring to the development of the state.
As you know, as legislators, our business is to make laws that would have direct bearing on the citizens of Plateau State.
I believe, this is the first time, that all the 24 House members are working together, supporting me as the Speaker to administer the House of Assembly. Being the Chief Servant of the House, I work between the three Arms of government, ensuring that things are done within the ambit of the law. We members have resolved to work in harmonious relationship for the best interest of the state.
What is the House doing as individual members to cushion the effects of Covid-19 on the citizens of Plateau State?
The governor has done well in providing palliatives to the poorest in the state. On our part as members of State House of Assembly, we have been providing palliatives in our own little ways to our people in various constituencies to cushion the effect of Covid-19.
Awareness is also part of our campaign to sensitize the people on the dangers of Covid-19 and to take precautionary measures to curb the spread of CORONAVIRUS. It is our prayer that we overcome this virus in Plateau State and beyond, because the virus has claimed many lives globally.
