KEY POINTS
- The Benue Assembly has halted the screening process due to unmet resolutions.
- Lawmakers demand allowances, vehicles, and chamber completion.
- The standoff underscores tensions between the legislature and the governor.
Benue State lawmakers have drawn a line in the sand against Governor Hyacinth Alia, refusing to screen his commissioner nominees until he addresses a backlog of unmet legislative resolutions.
The move came Friday in Makurdi after Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh read Alia’s letter listing his proposed cabinet members. The chamber erupted into a series of grievances—from unpaid constituency allowances to missing official cars—that lawmakers said underscored a widening disconnect between the executive and the legislature.
Lawmakers demand compliance with past resolutions
Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) said screening nominees was a constitutional duty they were willing to fulfill but stressed that unresolved concerns must first be addressed. Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) pointed to his unpaid first constituency allowance, unfinished chamber renovations, and the absence of official vehicles for seven members as proof of the executive’s neglect.
Gabo urged colleagues to adjourn sittings sine die, warning that if the governor preferred to work without them, he should “proceed alone”—but must treat legislators with fairness.
Benue Assembly puts welfare at the forefront
Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) described the standoff as feeling like a “state of nature,” noting that even passed resolutions, such as unfreezing state accounts, had been ignored. Manger Manger (APC/Tarka) accused the government of withholding constituency service funds despite budget allocations.
Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpo-Akpa) said the executive’s disregard for Assembly resolutions discouraged ministry and agency heads from honoring invitations. Others, including Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) and Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala), said the screening should wait until their demands were met—though some opposed a total shutdown of sittings.
Focus on governance, not plastic chairs
Michael Audu (PDP/Adoka-Ugboju) warned that sine die adjournment could prevent the Assembly from meeting constitutionally required sitting days. William Ortyom (PDP/Agasha) noted the legislature was still sitting on plastic chairs two years in, calling it a national outlier.
In his ruling, Speaker Dajoh directed Governor Alia to suspend the SUBEB Chair, Otukpo Council Chairman, and Sports Lottery Board Executive Secretary. He warned that without meeting demands — including seven vehicles for members — the Assembly would not consider further correspondence from the governor.
