Benue Assembly confirms new Auditor-General for local government

Benue Assembly on Tuesday screened and confirmed Mr Abraham Chia as the new Auditor-General for Local government.

Chia was presented to the house by Gov. Hyacinth Alia to be screened for the position.

The house, after going through the curriculum vitea of the nominee, moved a motion that he should  take a bow and step out and he was later confirmed accordingly.

Also, the house took the second reading of the Benue supplementary financing and Appropriation Bills 2024.

The debate which was lead by the Majority leader of the house Mr Saater Tiseer, said the bill was borne out of the desire to fund deficiencies observed in the 2024 approved estimates which was passed in December 2023.

Tiseer further said, the bill provided for counterpart funding obligations and extra budgetary capital needs of the state to ensure development objectives.

“Benue government created new ministries, parastatals and agencies for effective service delivery as well as reorganize the old ministries to make them more focused and results- oriented, these changes are among the cogent reasons for this supplementary budget,” Tiseer said.

The bill was read for the second time during Tuesday’s plenary  and referred to the house committee on appropriation for further legislative scrutiny.

Also brought to the floor of the house for second reading was the Benue state Mental Health Enhancement and Regulation service Bill 2024 and the Benue state social protection agency bill 2024.