Talk:John Wash Pam

Biography of John Wash Pam

FOR THE RECORDS: Men rise to greatness from different sources and through different styles and times. Some were born great, some born into great environments by virtue of their family and inherited context : while others attain greatness from very humble backgrounds through hard work. The year 1940 came like other years in the land of Foron on the Jos Plateau. Beautiful as the land is, very little was known about it nationally at the time. Yet it was from this relatively unknown place that one of Nigeria's great minds and distinguished leader, father, democrat politician and peace promoter who was later to be known nationally and internationally was born. This is the story of Senator John Wash Pam, Deputy Senate President of the federal republic of Nigeria (1979-1983).

Born on 22 October 1940 at Foron, a Serene rural terrain in the then Jos Native authority, Plateau Province, the Senator began a humble and simple life in Foron. It was perhaps this serene setting that was later to shape his life and commitment to service. Foron was the center of Christian Evangelism and education on the Jos Plateau by virtue of being a missionary station. His late father Da Yakubu Pam Deme was in fact the first ever Berom Christian convert and Evangelist. Senator Wash Pam began his early life, including primary education in Foron. He attended the Prestigious Boys Secondary School Gindiri,a landmark of educational success of his time, and passed out in 1960 having obtained the west Africa School certificate in that year. He then proceeded, expectedly, on a predictable ladder of excellence and promise to Kings College Lagos for his Higher School Certificate which he obtained in 1962.This gave him immense exposure and prepared him for more challenging responsibilities ahead. The significance of Choice was that whereas many of his peers went to school close by, only the brave and those who excelled could cross regions and make Lagos, and Kings College for that matter. From HSC in Lagos, he returned to Ahmadu Bello University as one of the early students of the institution for a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs,which he obtained in 1966.

If education helped to mould the Senator, perhaps his working career and the array of personalities and the very Nigerianness of the spread of his working career helped produce a typical and balanced Nigerian worthy of a national award as we are witnessing today. He began his working life as Clerical Officer of the Prime Minister at Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos from 1962-1963.He thereafter worked as Assistant Protocol Officer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the Office of the Premiere in Kaduna from 1964-1965.Combining perhaps two of the most important offices in Nigerian politics at the time opened his eyes to the significant and content of national as well as regional politics. This was capped by his work as Assistant Secretary (Political) in the office of the Military Governor in Kaduna (1966-1967)where he served as secretary to the Northern Leaders of Thought Conference, the Northern Consultative Committee, Northern Provincial Authorities committee, Northern Emirs and Chiefs Meetings and Northern Self -Help Committee. It's is little surprising that he has worked tirelessly for the peace and unity of the north, of Plateau State and the Nigerian Nation.Senator Wash Pam was back to Plateau State and became closely associated with Local Government issues and grassroots politics as Nominated Councillor following the creation of Plateau State and his Local government in 1976.His membership of the Constituent assembly not only deepened his political insight and engagement, it also brought him into contact with key players nationwide. He joined the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) and was elected Senator in October 1979,he was elected Deputy Senate President from 1979-1983 and re-elected in October 1983.The Senate of his time will be remembered for maintaining cordial relations with the executive arm of government, performing its oversight functions and transparent appropriation.It was a Senate marked by humility, modesty and commitment to national service. The flamboyance of today emerged after their era. Senator Wash Pam had also served his nation in many different capacities.These include

- 1st Secretary Head of Chancery, Nigeria High Commission, Freetown 1967-1970

-Administrative Officer, Statutory Corporations Service Commission Lagos

-Administrative Officer, Land Transport, Federal Ministry Of Transport, Lagos, Nigeria

-Assistant Secretary (Admin), Federal Ministry Mines and Power, Lagos

Personal Manager, Nigeria Industrial Development Bank LTD Lagos 1972-1975

Member, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, 1976-1978.

-Deputy Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria and inter -parliamentary Union Chairman 1979-1983

Member, Constituent Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Lagos 1977-1978.

Executive Director, Netherlands Habourworks (Nig) Lagos 1984-1990.

Chairman Board of Directors, Marine Mutual Services, Ltd Lagos 1984-1990

Member ,Constitutional conference of Nigeria, 1995-1996

Member, Transitional Implementation committee of the Federal republic of Nigeria, 1995-1996

Chairman, Board of Directors, Jos international Breweries , 2002

Member, Board of Directors, Benue Cement Company, Gboko, 2002-2010

Chairman, people's Democratic Party electoral Panel, Osun state 2003.

Member,Presidential advisory Committee on Jos Crisis 2010

Chairman Pdp Elders Committee Plateau State. Rondong (talk) 06:57, 11 August 2017 (UTC)