Benue Assembly summons State Attorney General, Commissioner
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim appears before it Tuesday 3rd December 2024, at 10: Am, for clarification about the bills passed by the House and transmitted to the executive.
The House also summoned the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange and the management of Lobi Stars to appear before it Tuesday 3rd December to explain why the only State football team Lobi Stars Football Club is performing below expectation.
The House took the decision during a plenary presided by the speaker, Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
Hon. Douglas Akya member representing Makurdi South State Constituency who moved the motion informed the House that the tenth Benue State House of Assembly has within one year and half passed very important bills into laws which was unprecedented in the history of the Assembly and expressed worry why there has been no effective communication from the executive whether the bills were assented to or withheld.
Hon. Akya further explained that the constitution requires the Governor to assent to bills passed and transmitted to the executive by the House of Assembly within thirty days or communicate to the Speaker informing him the reason in case of rejection.
Members lamented the negative effect of non-assent on bills passed by the House could cause a lot of damage to the State, urged the House to allow the Attorney General to appear and explain why the executive has failed to communicate to the Speaker of the House the status of the ignored bills by the executive.
Hon. Abraham Jabi, member representing Buruku State Constituency lamented the poor performance of Lobi Stars, noted that despite the huge resources expended by the State Government to support the team, the club is still performing below expectations with position 17th on the league division table, heading to relegation.
Contributing to the motion, Member representing Makurdi South State Constituency Hon. Douglas Akya and that of Makurdi North State Constituency Hon. Alfred Emberga, noted that the present government has funded the club heavily and regretted why there was no corresponding result from the club.
The House also summoned the Commissioner for Finance, Micheal Oglegba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security and that of Labour Matters, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment and President, Benue Motorcycle Hirers Association and that of National Union of Road Transport Workers to appear before it Tuesday 3rd December 2024.
While the Commissioner of Finance is to appear and explain why the State government accounts are still frozen, the latter is to appear in order to address the crisis rocking the Unions in the State.
The House also urged the Benue State Government to take immediate and decisive action to protect the lives and properties of the affected communities in Logo and Gwer West Local Governments following recent attacks by herdsmen on some communities in Logo and Gwer West, describing the attacks as a declaration of war on the people.
Also, during Plenary, two bills enjoyed first reading at the floor of the house and the bills include, a bill for a law to amend the College of Education Katsina- Ala Law 2022 and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024 and a bill for a law to amend the College of Education, Oju law, 2021, and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024.
The two bills were read by the Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Peter Ipusu and were referred to the committee on Rules and Business to be slated for second reading on a later date.
The House also observed a minute silence in honour of the late Wantaregh Paul Unongo OFR, who passed away at the age of 87 and will be buried on the 30th, November 2024.
