COMMENTARY ON SPEAKER, PLATEAU STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, RT. HON.ABOK NUHU AYUBA, ONE YEAR IN OFFICE

Right Honourable Abok Nuhu Ayuba, Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly and Member Representing Jos East state constituency is a strong believer in serving his constituents. He was elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election and unanimously elected by  Members to lead the 9th State Assembly as Speaker on 10th June, 2019. He is the second youngest Speaker in the history of Plateau State House of Assembly after Rt. Hon. Isa C. Song.

 Abok who promised to operate an open door policy and align himself to ideals that will project the image of the Assembly and formulate People's oriented laws consistent with the present government policies and yearning of the people, has never relented in attending to matters that would move the Assembly and Plateau State forward.

 He would always be remembered for being a strong advocate of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence amongst citizens.  The Speaker constantly harps on the fact that development can only be achieved when there is peace and unity of purpose. These singular actions have earned him accolades, goodwill and commendation from the people.

The Speakership of Abok Ayuba is leaving no one in doubt in terms of accountability and purposeful leadership as he pursue it programmes aimed at improving the lots of the People of Plateau State. He has not only succeeded in maintaining his open door policy by maintaining unity and offering good relationship in the assembly, but has also succeeded  in ensuring that the legislative arm is  partnering with other arms of government to better the lives of citizens.

Plateau State House of Assembly under  the leadership of Abok Ayuba, in the past one year has passed six bills into the law which Include 2020 appropriation bill which was passed in December  2019, the first in the history of the house. There are other important bills pending before the House which are presently going through the various stages of legislation.

Several motion and matters of urgent public importance were presented at the floor of the house, top among them was issue of security, attacks and killings in some communities across various communities in which  the Speaker immediately constituted various committees to dialogue with relevant stakeholders to find lasting solution to the incidents.

Concerned by the issue of security, which is paramount to any development and peaceful co-existence, the Speaker undertook a familiarization visit to security outfits in the state to intimate them on their  security concern and to seek areas of collaboration in order to secure the lives and property of constituents.

The Speaker, also led members to condoled with the people of Bokkos, Irigwe, and Mangu to sympathized with them over the attacks and killings of their community members. Gruesome killing of some indigenes of the state also received condemnation and sympathy from the State Assembly led by him.

On the issue of the corona virus disease also known as COVID-19, Plateau State House of Assembly under the leadership of Abok Ayuba has not only created awareness on the danger of the dreaded disease but embarked on the oversight visit to the State border areas to ascertained the level of compliance to border closure directives and other measures put in place to curtail the spread of the pandemic. They also donated half of their May salary to the plateau State COVID-19 Trust Fund to support the state government fight against the dreaded disease in the state.

Abok Ayuba, a visionary leader with good and generous heart has touched the lives of many people with an all inclusive leadership style and this has earned him the confidence and goodwill of his Honourable colleagues who recently passed a vote of confidence on him.

The Speaker is fondly regarded by his constituents as a pillar of strength and an apostle of youth empowerment. He has always being engaged on how best to make life  really meaningful for the common man. He has since toured his constituency to thank the constituents  for giving him the mandate to represent them at the State Assembly.

Abok, who has never been distracted by the false, malicious and defamatory publication posted on the social media by some mischief makers and persons who are against him, has remained focused and resolutes in looking inward and contributes generously to all efforts aimed at delivering services to the community in all sphere of lives.

Performance as Leader of the 9th State Assembly and what he has given back to the society and community who voted him into Office are quite numerous.

Some include the construction of a health facility in Riseh, Zandi Ward which has reached advance stage of completion.

Renovation of a classroom block in Maigemu, Fadan Fobur and Boda  ongoing.

In the Agricultural sector,  Abok has always made provision of fertilizer to farmers at subsidize rate even before he ventured into politics..

Others include assistance to various Youth and Community based associations where funds were made available for their development projects,  humanitarian services and assistance  to the Internally Displaced Persons in Fursum District..

Equally the Speaker has assisted women with funds to start small scale Businesses and gave One hundred  and fifty  thousand Naira (#150,000) to  each graduate of his community who made First Class (Honours) Degree from any public university to pursue  their masters degree programme.

On the youth empowerment,  apart from the introduction of scholarship scheme to studies in various institutions of learning,  Abok has purchased and distributed motorcycles to some deserving youth to boost their economic base...

He also purchased and distributed  wheel chairs to the physical challenges persons to ease their mobility...

The 2020 constituency project is targeting at the less privilege students whose parents can't pay their WAEC,  NECO and JAMB registration.

Disturbed by the consistent conflict between Fursum and Foron community at the border between Jos East and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, the Speaker  engaged all stakeholders in dialogue on the need to maintained peaceful co-existence between the two neighbouring communities.

On the Covid-19 pandemic,  Abok did not only lead Members to donates half of their salary  to the state covid-19 trust fund, but he has personally made his personal donation of some food items  to Agwom Izere of Afizere nation for onward distribution to district heads to assist the vulnerable in the community during lock down period.

On the social contract, the Speaker has pledged not to fail the people but to continue to live up  to the responsibility of his mandate.

Written by:
BULUS ATANG AZI,
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker.