The Plateau State Government has called for calm and restraint from citizens and stakeholders following heated public commentaries and reactions that trailed a recent judgment of the Plateau State High Court on the issuance of certificates of indigeneship and residency in Jos North Local Government Area.
In a statement signed Monday, June 16, 2026 by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, mni, the government said it was “deeply concerned by the manner in which the subject has generated heated public debates and commentaries capable of heightening tension among communities that have coexisted peacefully for decades.”
While recognizing “the constitutional right of citizens to express their views on matters of public interest,” Ramnap urged “all individuals, groups, and stakeholders to exercise restraint, responsibility, and caution in their public engagements on this matter.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the Jos North Local Government Council, “like any other party dissatisfied with a judicial pronouncement, retains the constitutional and legal right to seek redress through the appellate process.” She added that “all parties should allow the due process of law to take its full course without resorting to actions or statements capable of undermining public peace and harmony.”
Ramnap reiterated that “the Plateau State Government remains firmly committed to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the independence of the Judiciary,” stressing that the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang “will continue to provide an enabling environment in which all residents can lawfully pursue their legitimate activities while respecting the local customs, values, and traditions.”
On the sensitivity of the issue, the Commissioner warned: “Government will not stand by and allow individuals or groups with vested interests to exploit the current situation to incite hatred, sow division, promote suspicion, or undermine the peaceful coexistence that Plateau State has worked hard to build and sustain over the years.”
She further noted that “as a responsible government, we cannot pre-judge, endorse, or condemn the substance of a judicial decision through public commentary,” because “the separation of powers, which is fundamental to our democratic system, requires respect for the decisions of the courts and the legal processes available for reviewing such decisions.”
Ramnap also contextualized the matter, stating that “issues of indigeneship, citizenship, residency rights, and the status of persons born and resident in locations other than their ancestral states or local government areas have long been subjects of constitutional, legal, and scholarly discourse across Nigeria.” She argued it would be “inappropriate to isolate or reduce these complex national issues to a single Local Government Area in Plateau State.”
The government therefore called on “all residents, community leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to remain calm, law-abiding, and committed to preserving the peace and unity of our state.”
“Government reassures the people of Plateau State of its unwavering commitment to justice, fairness, inclusion, and the protection of the rights and dignity of every resident, irrespective of ethnic, religious, or cultural background,” the statement concluded.
