Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, has stated that his government will not engage in negotiations with terrorists, promising instead to defend the state’s citizens and democratic institutions.

During the state’s Democracy Day celebration in Jos on Friday, Mutfwang made the statement.

Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, government representatives, civil society organizations, young people, and other stakeholders attended the event, which was organized by Verified Conversations and Inside Plateau in collaboration with the Plateau State Government.

Speaking about security, the governor stated that his administration is still dedicated to protecting people and property throughout the state.

“Terrorists will not be negotiated with by Plateau.” We shall defend democracy, our people, and our neighborhoods. It is incorrect for anyone to believe that using violence will grant them a place at the political table.

Mutfwang declared, “This government will only interact with citizens through legitimate, democratic channels.”

He said that by holding emergency security meetings, visiting camps for internally displaced people, and stepping up cooperation with security agencies, the government promptly addressed current security issues in the southern Plateau.

“Freedom of choice, property security, and the right to peaceful assembly are all guaranteed by democracy. For this reason, I continue to be an ardent supporter of democracy. At all costs, it must be maintained,” he said.

He claims that emergency lines have been set up for citizens to report suspicious activity, and recruiting into the state’s security infrastructure is under progress with presidential approval.

The governor went on to say that in order to increase community safety, the state was investing in technology and more security formations.

“In terms of security, we moved quickly to address the southern Plateau situation by holding a meeting of the security council, visiting camps for internally displaced people, and enhancing cooperation with security agencies.

“We have established emergency lines for citizens to report suspicious activity, and we are currently recruiting into our security architecture with Mr. President’s approval.” To keep our communities safe, we are also making investments in technology and additional security formations,” he said.

In evaluating the effectiveness of his administration, the governor stated that the Plateau Internal Revenue Service’s changes have raised monthly domestically produced revenue from less than N1 billion to between N3.5 billion and N4 billion.

Our monthly goal is ₦10 billion. We are promoting the state to both domestic and international investors, and Plateau is open for business,” he stated.

He noted that his administration had paid over N3 billion in pensions and gratuities and had obtained a N15 billion facility to settle pay backlogs left over from earlier administrations.

“We inherited limited resources for workers, but we were able to secure a ₦15 billion facility to clear salary backlogs.” Salary payments have been made on time ever since.

He added, “We have also paid over ₦3 billion in pensions and gratuities through a transparent process that eliminates middlemen.”

Joyce Ramnap, the Commissioner for Information, stated that informed citizens were crucial to maintaining democracy and that the government remained dedicated to openness and citizen participation.

Speaking as well, Samson Omale, Convener of Verified Conversations and Inside Plateau, stated that the occasion signified the introduction of a citizen engagement platform intended to improve communication between the public and the government.

Residents discussed concerns pertaining to state development and governance with the governor during an interactive session at the event.