Taraba ALGON revokes citizens’ indigene certificates, residents kick

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State on Thursday said it has suspended all indigenes certificates issued in the past in the state.
Chairman of the association and the Executive Chairman of Ibi local government council, Bala Bako announced this at a press briefing in Jalingo.
Bako said the decision became necessary to check the proliferation of fake indigene certificates by some misguided individuals.
“We have observed the proliferation and production of fake indigene certificates and consequently we have suspended all hitherto local government indigene certificates issued.
“We have approved the issuance of a new one wherein all applications or requests for such certificates must be routed through the ward or village heads to the Chairman for endorsement.
The association also said it has resolved to work closely with security operatives and traditional rulers to tackle insecurity in the state.
This is even as it plans to set up sensitization committees at ward levels to create awareness on the coronavirus pandemic to check community spread.
But in a swift reaction, some residents of Taraba kicked against the planned suspension of indigenes certificates saying the policy would be counterproductive.
Auta Kefas said that the association was wrong in her decision, saying that most of the indigene certificates issued since 1991 were duly signed by the council chairmen and revoking them will require a law or resolution of the House of Assembly.
On his part, Hon. Umar Sarkinbawa of Green Party of Nigeria said the policy has only exposed the emptiness of the state government.
According to him ALGON Taraba State as an association lacks the powers to issue such a directive, noting that no institution revokes her certificate in such a manner.