Federal lawmaker Pwajok joins Plateau North Senatorial race

By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos

Federal Lawmaker representing Jos South /Jos East in the house of representative Hon Edward Pwajok on Thursday declared his intention to contest for the  Plateau North Senatorial seat in the forthcoming 2019 general elections .

Our correspondent reports the Pwajok  is the first and so far the only indigene of the Northern zone of Plateau State to be appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN).

He is  also the first Senior Advocate in the House of Representatives and the only Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the 8th National Assembly.

Speaking at the occasion in Jos ,Pwajok said ” Today’s occasion is unique as it affords me the opportunity to formally commence my campaign to be the flag bearer of APC in the 2019 General elections to represent Plateau North in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“With my impressive achievements in the House of representative ,respectable persons in the Northern zone have been urging me to offer myself to serve in a higher capacity in the Senate come 2019. They feel with my track record of excellence in whatever tasks I am given, that the zone will benefit from the wealth of my experience, and resourcefulness. The 2019 contests are going to be tough. Even from the aggressiveness of the opposition, we can see that they are hell bent on taking over power from our great party at all levels. In view of this we have no option but to put forward our best defeat them.”

“May I say with all sense of modesty, that having excelled and with the credibility that I have, that I invite you to support me to be elected to fly the flag of our great party in order to clinch the Northern Senatorial seat in next year’s election in order to continue the good works that we are known for.”

The conventions of the National Assembly favor those with cognate legislative experience in the National Assembly. That is why those who are elected from the house to the senate are ranked higher than even former Governor’s or Ministers or State Speakers elected for the 1st time to the senate. Electing me will thus benefit our constituency as I wouldn’t be learning the ropes but being on familiar terrain,I would transit seamlessly to the Red chambers and would use my network of familiar contacts both in the National Assembly and the MDA,S for the benefit of my constituency. ”

He also said “Since there is a National consensus that I have done very well in the house, the old saying that the reward for hard work is more work aptly applies to me. As the winning horse,I beseech you to trust me and vote for me so that I will not only win the race but continue to work very hard to justify your confidence”

The lawmaker also said he has  sponsored over “50 Bills in the House of Representatives, thus the 3rd Highest sponsor of Bills in the 360 member House of Representatives, the highest among members from Northern Nigeria and the highest of all first timers in the 8th National Assembly.”

“For instance, the Bill on the abolition of the Dichotomy between HND and First Degree. Hitherto, HND holders could not progress beyond level 14 in the civil service but can now rise to Permanent Secretary or the peak of their careers.”

“I  also sponsored a Bill, which has been passed to amend the interpretation Act, to regulate appointments in acting capacity, there is also a Bill to establish the NIGERIA Football Federation (NFF)which the House has passed. My Bills cut across Education,Health,The Armed Forces,Federal Character Commission,Children,Women,Institution of Government,Electoral Act,Deepening Democracy,Human Rights,Anti Corruption.”

Because of my regular presence on the floor particularly in committee of whole, I always amend bills to reduce the age qualification for government organizations to ensure employment of young persons.

I moved the motion to mandate the Federal Government to fill the many vacancies in INEC, which has enabled the commission not only to be duly constituted but to organize many elections after 2015 and even prepare for the forthcoming elections.

“I am proud to say that in addition to being a member of 9 standing committees in the House namely: Human Rights which I chair; Constitution Amendment; Federal Judiciary; FCT Judiciary; House Services, Power; FERMA; Sports; Diaspora, I have been privileged to chair the House ad Hoc Committees on investigating the Bama Initiative, and Harmonizing the Electoral Act amendment Bill and also a member of several ad Hoc committees including the Petroleum Industry Bill, wherein Bassa Local Government of Plateau State has been included as one of the host/impacted communities by virtue of oil pipelines passing through it; ad Hoc committee investigating the DSS invasion of Judges Houses, ad Hoc committee investigating NEMA; ad Hoc committee investigating capital budget/Releases 2015 etc etc.

Through my membership of the committees and my Constituency projects I have influenced several projects in my constituency including motorized boreholes in Jos East (Shere), Jos South (Rantya) including rehabilitation of the motorized borehole in Vwei, Kuru, (Jos South) and in Vat (Barkin Ladi), road construction in Kwata and VWANG, fencing of primary school in Diye, Jos South, Free Medical Outreach in both Jos South and Jos East where thousands of persons were tested and treated two babies among many who were delivered successfully by caesarian section, were named after my wife and myself.

Pwajok also said ” I am glad to announce that some of the projects I have influenced have been advertised for tender namely electrification of areas of Jos East and Jos South, road construction in Vwang, Kuru, School construction in Turu, Primary Healthcare centre rehabilitation in Fursum, including motorized boreholes.

” I have always spoken for the underprivileged in the society, for my constituency and my state. I also speak, i lobby for promotion, appointment, employment of persons from my constituency in particular and my state in general. I have done the same in many MDA’s including the security agencies like the Police, Prisons, Civil Defence, the Federal Civil Services, Federal Parastatals etc.I have sponsored some students of FCE Pankshin from my constituency and also sponsored for the training of some youths in ITF all from the constituency. One of the beneficiaries of those whom  who secured employments in the office of the accountant general ,.Also Miss Kaweng Susan Doro was among those FCE students being sponsored by the Honourable member. Hon Hilary Ajik from Jos East was among those youths trained on ICT at ITF among others.

I have presented several petitions on behalf of citizens some of who have been reinstated to work or paid benefits they were denied. I have interceded for traumatized residents of my constituency even in Labour matters where many citizens that would have lost their jobs were not only retained but some promoted.The Veterinary Research Institute Vom is an example.

Pwajok also appealed to the people of the state to support the APC government at all times .

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Federal lawmaker Pwajok joins Plateau North Senatorial race