Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State may have drawn the battle line with members of the House of Assembly as he has barred all civil servants from honouring any invitation from the legislative arm of government in the state.
We had earlier reported that the Plateau Assembly had set up a committee to probe allegations of gross financial misconduct against the state government by a group known as the Plateau Patriotic Front.
Jang’s son, Yakubu, had earlier dragged the lawmakers before the state High Court to stop the lawmakers from probing him and his father.
The court had already served the Assembly a notice to put on hold the probe pending the determination of Yakubu’s suit.
But in a memo issued by the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Shedrack Best, Jang said, “No civil servant, working under the state government or political appointee is allowed to honour the invitation from the state House of Assembly without seeking clearance from the governor”.
A copy of the memo, which was seen by reporters in Jos, Tuesday, reads, “I am directed to inform you that henceforth, no ministry, department or agency is to appear before any committee anywhere with respect to any petition unless you seek clearance and obtain approval from the governor”.
The memo, distributed to all government MDAs as well as special advisers, urged them to comply strictly with the directive.
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