Mr Stephen Jings, Chairman of the Pankshin Local Government Interim Management Committee (IMC) 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.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that unlike in the past when councillors received salaries, those in the reconstituted IMC would receive only sitting allowances.
NAN 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.
NAN quotes Golmen, in her speech, as asking the councillors to see their nomination as a call to service rather than an avenue for money making.
She urged them to keep their constituents abreast of government policies and strive to gauge their feelings over government programmes.
Prof. John Wade, Director-General, Research and Documentation, Plateau Government House, urged the councillors and people of Pankshin to bury their differences and unite toward improving the living standards of the people.
