Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 disengaged five commissioners in a minor cabinet reorganization. The governor in a Press Release signed by the Secretary of the Government of the State, Arc Samuel Nanchang Jatau listed the affected former State Executive Committee members as follows:
- Hon Sule Musa Haruna – Commerce and Industry
- Asso. Prof Obed Gossele Nanjul – Science and Technology
- Hon Noel Naamiap Nkup – Youths and Sports
- Hon Chrysantus Dawam – Budget and Economic Planning
- Hon Jamila Bitrus Tukur – Tourism, Culture and Hospitality
The Government scribe added that “The Executive Governor expresses his profound appreciation to those who had served as Executive Council Members and wishes them the best in their future endeavours”.
Furthermore, Arc Jatau said Governor Mutfwang also listed the following as replacements
- Dr Sunday Akpa -Bassa
- Rt. Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, mni -Langtang South
- Arc Sylvanus Dongtoe -Shendam
- Dr Nicholas Baamlong -Qua’anpan
- Hon Cornelius Doeyok -Qua’apan
As usual, www.trilltimes.com.ng dug deeper to unravel the real reasons the commissioners were sacked.
How They Five Disengaged Commissioners Were Identified?
Our source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media confirmed that worried by the obvious lack of impacts by his cabinet despite timely approval and release of funds to the commissioners, the Governor in November secretly assigned an honest and frank team to evaluate the performances of his cabinet.
The independent and secret assessors carried out their work and ranked commissioners using the following parameters: their ministry performance, loyalty and political influence in their respective local governments
Trill Times News got a hint that the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Caroline Panglang Dafur topped the ratings while the disengaged Commissioner for Commerce and Industry was ranked the least performing Commissioner.
Hon Sule Musa Haruna, the former Commerce and Industry despite the presence of abundant mining sites, lock up shops and markets couldn’t leverage on them to add value to The Time Is Now Mantra. The commissioner also failed to utilize PLACCIMA to drive the economy of the state forward. The team was particularly dissatisfied with the commissioner that one of the secret assessors remarked that “if you cannot improve a system, at least maintain the standard. Trade and Investment is central to this government so the dismal performance was unacceptable”
Associate Professor Obed Nanjul Goselle who has overseen the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was ranked high as one of the best performing Commissioners to have led the ministry. However, other criteria such as political influence let him down.
A typical University Don who had brief stint as the Secretary of Langtang South before proceeding to Banjul for his doctorate degree over a decade ago seems to have forgotten his political calculator in the zoology laboratory. The Commissioner was even nicknamed by his people as super glue implying that he barely helps anyone not to talk of maintaining the party structure in Langtang South.
The last outing that necessitated an accelerated call for his disengagement by his people was when he summoned PDP critical stakeholders in Langtang South to Mabudi during Christmas and ended up giving #50,000 to all of them. An angry stakeholder protested “how much did I spend on bike from Lashel to Mabudi that the commissioner will give #50,000 to over 30 stakeholders to share?. This didn’t take care of my bike money. This man should remain in his classroom at the University and not destroy our party” he reacted.
Hon Noel Naanmiap Nkup, the erstwhile Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development was one of those Governor Mutfwang trusted so much and held so dearly as a “kitchen cabinet member” when he first handed him the ministry of Water Resources and Energy. Hon Nkup would however find himself submerged in murky political waters and travails when executing projects in his old ministry. Determined to protect his administration’s reputation, Gov Mutfwang immediately moved him to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. As if nature and fortune conspired against him, Hon Nkup got stroke by ailment that grounded him for sometime making him unable to carry out his responsibilities
Hon Chrysantus Dawam who hailed from Qua’anpan local government became more interested in becoming a political godfather in his locality than concentrating on his primary assignment at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. He became so obsessed with enthroning a Chairman that he fought fiercely during the last Local Government PDP Primaries. He threw away caution and wise counsel and opposed even the governor’s interest – Hon Christopher Wallat. He was suspended for a while before being reinstated. His sacking, according to political observers was just a matter of time but never in doubt
Hon Jamila Bitrus Tukur the former Commissioner of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality loyalty was never in doubt. However, political permutations forced her out. A Gindiri lady by birth but married to a Gamai man resident in Kurgwi, she was sacrificed to pave way for the real Pan people to help calm any negative political assertion that the governor “gave one of the southern zones slots to his kinswoman”. A kind and coolheaded woman, she did her best while in-charge of the ministry
Who are the next batch of Commissioners on probation?
Initially, as Trill Times News was rightly informed, ten Commissioners were penciled down for the sack based on their ratings. However, political considerations played grater roles in saving some.
It was agreed within the governor’s inner circle that letting go 10 commissioners at the same time with reelection primaries set for next year was a political suicide. It was then agreed that the last five ranked commissioners should be shown the door out while the second five should be placed on probation to be monitored closely. Should their performances not improve between now and December 2025, another cabinet shake-up will be inevitable
One Week Retreat To Hold Between February 9 – 15, 2025
To galvanize his team and serve the people of Plateau State maximally without clash of interests amongst his cabinet members, Trill Times News can exclusive report that a one week retreat has been provisionally scheduled for February 9th – 15, 2025 at an disclosed location. The retreat is to further refreshen the memories of old cabinet members while inducting the newly appointed commissioners as well
Cabinet members have been asked to shove fixing any program between the said date. This is likely not unconnected to the planned retreat
Gov Mutfwang www.trilltimes.com.ng can report warned that his administration must not fail Plateau people considering the massive support it has enjoyed from the citizenry. He is therefore determined to let go anyone that will constitute a cog in the wheel of progress
