‘FOR SOMEONE TO SAY I HAVE TOTALLY DONE NOTHING, I THINK THAT IS VERY UNFAIR’— Senator Diket Plang
Senator Diket Plang, who represents Plateau Central Senatorial District, has steadily carved a reputation for impact and effectiveness despite being a first-time legislator. Now in his third year in the Nigerian Senate, the senator reflects on his journey with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment, describing his tenure so far as productive. Navigating the complexities of the National Assembly as a newcomer is no small feat, yet Plang says his ability to quickly integrate, contribute, and engage meaningfully with legislative processes has defined his experience. He acknowledges that political seasons often heighten competition and scrutiny but insists that performance, not noise, should remain the true measure of leadership.
Beyond adaptation, Senator Diket Plang has emerged as a key figure within the Senate’s leadership structure. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, a strategic position that places him at the heart of national discussions on job creation, labour relations, and workforce development. He is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character, a crucial body responsible for promoting fairness and equity in federal appointments. In addition, he sits on several influential committees, including Appropriation, Finance, Customs, Navy, Air Force, and multiple petroleum-sector committees, as well as ad-hoc panels handling sensitive national assignments, an indication of the confidence reposed in him by the Senate.
Security and education have featured prominently in Plang’s legislative priorities, particularly against the backdrop of insecurity that greeted the start of his tenure in parts of Plateau Central such as Mangu, Bokkos, and Kanke. With schools severely affected, the senator introduced the idea of perimeter fencing for public schools to enhance safety, restrict unauthorized access, and protect school lands from encroachment. Over the past two years, several schools have benefited from this intervention, including Government Secondary School Mangu, Government Day Secondary School Pankshin, Langkuk Memorial Secondary School, Government Secondary School Kabwir, and GSS Kwalmiah in Kanam Local Government Area. He has also facilitated the installation of solar-powered lighting in schools such as Government Secondary School Balbwan in Gindiri and selected government girls’ schools to improve security and learning conditions.
Employment, however, remains at the core of Senator Plang’s agenda. He disclosed that he has facilitated the employment of over 100 graduates into federal agencies, with plans to publish beneficiaries’ names in the interest of transparency. In addition, several constituents have gained placements in paramilitary and security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Police. According to the senator, he takes personal pride in ensuring that qualified graduates are placed in institutions such as the National Population Commission, National Directorate of Employment, National Productivity Centre, Federal Medical Centres, cultural institutions, and even the National Assembly itself. Complementing these efforts, he has also concluded arrangements to sponsor four students from Plateau Central to study degree programmes in India, with admissions secured and visa processes ongoing.
In addition to his legislative and human-capital interventions, Senator Diket Plang has also implemented several grassroots empowerment and relief programmes across Plateau Central. These include the distribution of fertiliser, water pumping macho and assorted food items to farmers and vulnerable households to ease economic pressures and boost agricultural productivity. He has equally supported small-scale entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, with grinding machines, sewing machines, dryers/clippers and Point-of-Sale (POS) machines to promote self-reliance and expand local businesses at the community level. Complementing these efforts are strategic grading and rehabilitation of rural roads in selected areas, aimed at improving access, easing the movement of farm produce, and enhancing economic activities, drilling of motorised boreholes and building of examination hall amongst others.. Together, these interventions underscore the senator’s people-focused approach to governance—one that prioritises practical support and everyday impact beyond the Senate chambers.
While acknowledging that more remains to be done, Senator Diket Plang says he is satisfied with the foundation he has laid and remains committed to deepening his impact. He has expressed concern over what he describes as unfair criticism on social media, noting that leadership is often judged solely by visible projects while overlooking less obvious but equally important interventions. Calling for fairness, truth, and responsible assessment, the senator insists that service, not propaganda, defines his approach to leadership.
As political activities intensify, Diket Plang maintains that his focus will remain on employment, equity, and tangible benefits for the people of Plateau Central—guided by faith, humility, and a firm belief in purposeful service.
