06th February, 2023.
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING OF PLATEAU INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIVES (PIDAN) HELD ON February 04, 2023 AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE, JOS.

1:00. The National Council of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, comprising of National Presidents and Secretary-Generals of National Development Associations of ethnic nationalities on the Plateau met on February 04, 2023 at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Secretariat Hall, Jos. At the meeting attended by 41 of 56 ethnic nationalities, Council discussed and arrived at the following:

2:00 SECURITY
The Council reviewed the security situation in Plateau State and appreciated the efforts of the Security agencies in improving the  situation in the State. The Council discussed and made the following observations:
i. The Council noted with deep appreciation the recent gallantry of the hunters in Jos East, which, together with the support of other security agents, rescued the kidnapped paramount ruler of the Afizere Nation.  Council urged the Government to support the Development Associations in re-training their complementary approach to strengthening the security arrangement at the community level.
ii. The Council equally noted with deep appreciation the efforts of Operation Safe Heaven in facilitating the return of displaced persons to their ancestral lands. It noted with extreme joy the relocation of the IDPs to Jong community in Barkin Ladi and saluted the transformative leadership of Col MD Abdulsalam, the then Barkin Ladi Sector 4 Command, who led the team that ensured the success of the exercise. 
iii. Council equally acknowledged the immense contribution of the former GOC of the 3rd Armoured Division, Rukuba, Bassa LGA, in ensuring the success of the resettlement of Jong community and called on the New GOC of the Division to continue with the re-settlement project of the other villages.
iv. Council also noted the marked community efforts in the Jong village exercise led by the highly supportive contribution of Sen ID Gyang and expressed its profound appreciation to the Senator..

2:00 BRITISH AMERICAN JUNCTION FLYOVER AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION.
Council noted with satisfaction the progress of work on this project and saluted the Governor Simon Lalong’s Administration on its exemplary focus and determination to complete the project.  It urged the administration to ensure the project is completed, commission and open to the public before the administration tenure is over.
ii. Council however is concerned with the appearance of new buildings along the road under construction.  Council urged Government to ascertain the legal status of such buildings and stop all illegal constructions.

3:00. FORTH-COMING GENERAL ELECTIONS.
The Council deliberated on going campaigns and preparations for the forth-coming elections and made the following observations:
i. Council noted with concern the issue of fairness and equity with respect to the Presidential elections and the various aspirants. Plateau State is known to be advocate of fairness, equity and justice as they related to unity of this Country. It also examined the issue of zoning as practiced since the return of democracy in the Country in 1999. 
It noted the fact that the North is completing a term of 8 years this year. Council put all these facts together and came to the conclusion that applying the principle of fair play, equity and justice, the Presidency should move to the South.  Plateau should be seen championing the strengthening of this principled position given the role our past heroes played to keep this Country united. Council therefore urges all residents of Plateau State to vote for a candidate of their choice from the southern part of the Country for the presidential elections.  Council directed the leadership of the 56 Development Associations in the State to educate their people on this adopted position and appealed to the religious groups in the State to educate their adherents on the need to support this principled position with their votes which carries the potential to strengthen the unity of the Country.
ii. Council also noted the quality of the political party candidates in the State and congratulated them for their successes at the party primaries.  It equally appreciated the manifestoes and the high quality of interactions with the candidates.  It applauded the candidates’ approach to the issue of peace and the fair nature of the campaigns.  It urges the candidates to continue to preach and maintain peace throughout the campaign and during the elections.  It looks forward to working with any of them that emerges victorious in the elections. 
iii. Council discussed the general preparation towards the elections in the State and noted with satisfaction the level of preparedness for the exercise.  It appreciated INEC for the extension of time for the collection of PVCs, however, its urges the State INEC Commissioner and his team to work with the leadership of the 56 Development Associations and other key stakeholders to speed up the distribution and collection of PVCs.  This is essential in ensuring that all those who registered are able to exercise their rights to vote. 
iv. Council equally directed the leadership of the 56 Development Associations in the State to queue into the CONAEDA voters education programme to ensure that the people are properly educated on how to vote in the forth-coming elections. Associations leaders were also directed to educate the people and put measures in place for a violent-free elections.

4:00. PROPOSED NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL JOS
i. Council re-iterated its appreciation to Hon Idris Maje, the Deputy-Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives for sponsoring the Bill for the establishment of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos.  Council equally noted the input of the State Government during the process of enacting the Bill and its promise to provide building infrastructure as its contribution to the establishment of the Orthopaedic Hospital.  Council equally noted the visit from the Fed Ministry of Health to the State to inspect facilities where both the old JUTH and Simon Lalong Specialist Hospital, Barkin Ladi were inspected with the recommendation that the Barkin Ladi Facility being the most suitable for the Hospital.
ii. Council also noted the concern of a group under the auspices of the ‘Plateau Equity Forum’ which published an advertorial in the Nation Newspaper of 4th January 2023 insisting that the Hospital be sited at the Jos Metropolitan site. 
iii. Council examined the arguments including the concern of the Plateau Equity Forum and the Reports on the inspection of both sites by the Federal Ministry of Health and Works and support the recommendation that the Orthopaedic Hospital be sited at the Simon Lalong Specialist Hospital, Barkin Ladi.  Council equally noted the fact that it is the responsibility of the State Government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Federal Government on the location of the Hospital and so has the Council’s backing to site the Hospital at Barkin Ladi.
iii. Council appreciated the concern of the Plateau Equity Forum and its commitment to promoting equity.  However, the Council faulted the Forum’s perception on equity.  In health, equity is commonly viewed in relation to access which could be economic or physical.  As regards economic access, the Gov Simon Lalong administration has done well in this regard by establishing the Plateau State Contributory Health Emergency Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) which addressed economic access to health care, especially for those in metropolitan areas like Jos-North, the inhabitants of which have largely began accessing care under the scheme. 
On Physical access, siting the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos-North would be the most inequitable siting of such a facility because both the Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos (JUTH) which has a robust orthopaedic service and the proposed National Orthopaedic Hospital will be in the same Local Government area -Jos North.  The most equitable thing to do is to site the proposed orthopaedic Hospital in another LGA other than Jos-North in the Northern Senatorial Zone.  This might have contributed to the decision process of the team from the Federal Ministry of Health which recommended that the facility be sited at Barkin Ladi.  The Federal Ministry of Health recommendation addressed the equity issue with respect to the siting of the Facility in the health context better than the argument put forward by the Plateau Equity Forum.  Council wishes to advise the Plateau Equity Forum to take a second look on its position with a view to aligning with the Federal Ministry of Health recommendation and the State Government endorsement of the same recommendation.

Prof Aboi Madaki
President, PIDAN
Comrade Nanle Gujor
Secretary General, PIDAN

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PIDAN Speaks on State of Affairs in Plateau State