Information available to 247ureports.com through sources within the government house in Jos indicates that the peace in Jos may be interrupted by ongoing activities within the four local government areas [LGA] of Plateau State where the federal government had previously declared a stare of emergency owing the incessant violent in the State and in the country. The President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, had instituted a broad state of emergency order following the Madalla bombing on Christmas Day of 2011.
As gathered, the four LGAs in Plateau State include, Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom. And the said civil servants / workers have gone without receiving their regular salaries since November 11, 2011. The workers are yet to receive their salaries from the state government since November 2011.
According to one of the civil servants who spoke to our correspondent, “7 people have died in my department alone due hardships. So some have decided they will use weapons to speak for them should the government fail to pay before April 27, 2012“. The whistle blower continued to add that “I think Nigerian government don’t respect request made by mere talking but by taking weapons. Imagine somebody not being paid his salaries since 11-11-2011″.
One of the civil servants / workers who was cited to have lost his life as a result of the salary embargo by the Plateau State government was the late deputy director of Health Jos North LGA . He died of sickness and there was no money to take proper care of his hospital bill. “As I am talking to you now I myself and three others in my office are seriously ill. I am supposed to have being in Hospital but there is no money. My dad is also seriously sick. Sir, I can’t tell you all the hell we are passing through.” – the whistle blower lamented.
Available information indicates that the workers under the 4 LGAs has since resolved to take matters into their hands. Our correspondent was briefed on their earlier but failed/ignored request to Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan and the security agencies to come and take over the affairs of the region – and release their salaries. “All we want is for Mr. President to give an effective order to the military or any group he feels he can trust in them to take over leadership of the 4LGA so that they would control the leadership”, stated the group of whistle blowers who also went on to explain that the mood in Plateau State to be highly volatile to allow such aggrieved persons to wallow without redress.
Independent inquiry by 247ureports.com into the activities of the aggrieved group indicates that the group may have found ably armed sympathizers who have expressed willingness to stage a fight against the authorities in Plateau State. A member of the Joint Task Force [JTF] staged in the Jos area confirms that, of recent, the proliferation of highly dangerous weapons through the Jos / Bauchi Border have been on the increase. He confirms also that there has been an increase in irregular activities in Jos North and the three other mentioned LGAs. But he discounts the ability of the aggrieved workers to stage a violent protest against the government.
