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Tag: Benue Assembly

  • Benue Assembly APC Lawmaker Defects to PDP Over Injustice, Betrayal

    Benue Assembly APC Lawmaker Defects to PDP Over Injustice, Betrayal

    By Isaac Kertyo Makurdi

    Piqued by the injustice and betrayal of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to him a member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Makurdi North, Mr Thomas Kwaghkudi on Tuesday defected to the People’s Democratic party, PDP.

    Reading the letter of his resignation from his former party on Tuesday during plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Christopher Adaji welcomed the new entrant into the PDP family.

    He implored other opposition members of the house who are willing to join the party to do so, stressing that the party was large enough to accommodate them.

    Responding, Mr kwaghkudi contended that he left the party due to injustice and betrayal to pitch tent with the ruling PDP in the state for Governorship ambition of Mr Titus Uba and Senatorial bid of Governor Samuel Ortom as well as other candidates of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

    It was gathered that with the defection of Mr Kwaghkudi, PDP now has twenty five members at the Benue State House of Assembly, while other political parties have five members.

  • Benue Assembly Confirms Commissioner Nominees as Gov Ortom Appoints New Special Advisers

    Benue Assembly Confirms Commissioner Nominees as Gov Ortom Appoints New Special Advisers

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday screened and confirmed eight Commissioner Nominees forwarded to it by Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The screening and confirmation exercise came on heels of the partial dissolution of the State Executive Council, SEC, by the the Governor.

    The Commissioner Nominees include Mr Kester Kyenge, Engr Jude Aungwa, Mr Williams Agbatse an Mr Mike Inalegu. Others are; Mr Benjamin Agber, Dr Jene Ajah, Dr Saawuan Tarnongu and Barr Terungwa Nguher respectively.

    The Speaker of the Legislature, Mr Titus Uba in his remarks, urged the Nominees to live up to their expectations in the course of their new assignments. He acknowledged the commitment and determination of his colleagues in carrying out the exercise.

    Mean while, the Governor has approved the appointment of five new Special Advisers to serve in his administration. The new Special Advisers are; Mr Michael Mbakaan, Engr Richard Ujege, Mr Ade Nguhar, Joshua Ogbole and Hon Otse Otokpa.

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Ijoho, says twenty five Special Advisers retained their appointments.

  • Bill to Amend Anti Open Grazing Law Enjoys First Reading at Benue Assembly

    Bill to Amend Anti Open Grazing Law Enjoys First Reading at Benue Assembly

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    A Bill to amend the Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 passed second reading on the floor of the Benue State House of Assembly.

    This followed correspondence from the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa. It could be recalled that the Executive had observed lapses in some sections of the anti open grazing law, hence its decision to push for its amendment.

    It was learned that the amendment which affected sections 11, 19 and 22 sought to strengthen the offenses as well as stiffer penalties in the aforesaid sections of the law for faster development.

    The Executive Bill was presented to the House by the Majority Leader, Mr Damian Cheme during plenary for consideration.

    The Speaker, Mr Titus Uba, after reading the correspondence referred the bill to the house standing committee on rules and business to be brought to the house for a second reading.

  • Benue Assembly Implores BNSG to Pay N600 Million Counterpart Funds to Access N3 billion Livestock Funds

    Benue Assembly Implores BNSG to Pay N600 Million Counterpart Funds to Access N3 billion Livestock Funds

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State House of Assembly has Implored Benue State Government to pay priority attention to the office of the SDG by paying its counterpart funds to enable it derive benefits from UNDP,s programs.

    The Legislators equally urged the state government to pay the sum Six Hundred Million Naira counterpart funds to the Federal Government to access the Three Billion Naira Livestock Development Funds.

    The Parliamentarians made their position known during their visit to the project support unit as part of their legislative over sight function after a debate at plenary on Sustainable Development Goals,SDGs, and other Donor Agencies.

    The Chairman, House Standing Committee on SDGs, Mrs Agnes Uloko, pointed out that non payment of counterpart funds on some of the UNDP’s programs is depriving the people of some benefits.

    Also speaking, Member representing Tiev Constituency, Mr Dominic Ucha and that of Gboko East, Mrs Ngunan Agaigbe lauded the UNDP for its interventions which they said has in no small measure impacted the lives of the people in the state.

    Ruling, the Speaker Mr Titus Uba called on the Benue State Government to meet its obligation to enable the people of Benue benefit from the UNDP’s programs.

  • Benue Assembly Approves Gov Ortom’s Request to Access N11. 6Bn Loan Facility

    Benue Assembly Approves Gov Ortom’s Request to Access N11. 6Bn Loan Facility

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State House of Assembly has granted approval to enable Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom access over N11.6 billion loan facility from the bank.

    The approval was sequel to correspondence from Governor Samuel Ortom to the House which was read by the Speaker, Mr Titus Uba at plenary.

    According to Ortom, the loan facility is to finance counterpart funds obligation, infrastructure development and other needs of Government.

    The Governor explained that, due to the inability of the state government to access the fourty billion naira bond which was approved by the house for the same purpose but which Government was unable to access it, Government has sought for another alternative way to enable it continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    Ortom noted that security challenge and Covid-19 pandemic as well as lack of appreciable improvement in the average monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Account to the state have hindered Government from financing capital and recurrent obligation.

    The Speaker, Mr Uba put the question of approval before the members and they unanimously agreed through voice vote.

  • Benue Assembly Pledges to back Enforcement of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law

    Benue Assembly Pledges to back Enforcement of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi 

    Benue State House of Assembly has said it would continue to back the enforcement of the  Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state.

    The House of Assembly while condemning the recent attack on Governor Samuel Ortom by Militia Herders at his farm, maintained that the Governor has remained committed in defense of the Benue people’s right to leave and farm freely on their farms. 

    A statement by the Chairman House Standing Committee on  Information and Orientation, Mr Tertsea Gbgise for the Benue House of Assembly lamented the dangerous dimension in the security challenge occasioned by herders with the intention to take over Benue valley and other parts of the nation.

    The house urged the Governor not to be distracted by the scare tactics of the Herdsmen. It lauded Ortom over his refusal to be intimidated by the attackers and their co-conspirators, imploring Nigerians to see the Governor as a hero rather than being attacked by armed Militiaman. 

    The Assembly enjoined the citizens to consider the attached on the Governor as an eye opener, stating that all hands must be on deck to fight insecurity in Nigeria.

    It implored security agents to redouble efforts to fish out the bandits and bring them to justice, stressing that the current security situation in the country is capable of throwing the nation into chaos if not checked.

  • Benue Assembly Approves Suspension of LG Chairman over Misappropriation of Public funds

    Benue Assembly Approves Suspension of LG Chairman over Misappropriation of Public funds

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday at plenary approved the suspension of the Chairman, Vandeikya Local Government Council, Mrs Kukase Garba for three months over alleged misappropriation of public funds.

    The suspension of the Chairman was sequel to the correspondence from Governor Samuel Ortom through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Ijoho, SAN, to the House of Assembly, which was read by the Speaker, Hon Titus Uba.

    According to the Speaker, the suspension of the Chairman was in line with the Benue State Local Government Establishment Law 2007.

    Day Break’s checks indicated that the decision to suspend Mrs Garba followed a letter to the Governor by members of the Vandeikya Legislative Council in which they passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman.

    The Lawmakers also accused the Chairman of failure to inform the legislative council of the monthly income and expenditure of the local government, abuse of office and failure to present budget estimates to the Local Government Legislative Council.

    Efforts to contact the Chairman, Mrs Kukase for comments by our Correspondent failed as all her phone numbers were switched off at the time of filing this report.

  • Benue Assembly to assist Fire Service for better performance

    Benue Assembly to assist Fire Service for better performance

    The Benue State  House of Assembly  has pledged to assist Fire Service sub-stations in Makurdi to perform optimally.

    Mr Damian Cheme, Majority leader of the assembly  made the pledge on Monday in Makurdi when he led other members of the House Committee on Rules and Business on assessment tour to Fire Service sub-stations in Makurdi.

    The majority leader said that the Assembly would enact quality legislation that would help the sub-stations to perform creditably.

    “The Assembly will reposition the service to ensure that it responds quickly to the incessant fire outbreaks in the state capital.

    “Fire outbreak in Makurdi and elsewhere in Benue have been a major challenge.

    “It usually cripples most of the victims. The recent one being Otukpo Main Market, which was razed by fire last Monday while items and properties worth millions were destroyed,” he said.

    Daybreak gathered that the fire service sub-stations were supervised by the Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Duties.

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr Matthew Uyina, informed the committee that there were five sub-stations including the main office of the fire service in Makurdi.

    Uyina said that Gov. Samuel Ortom, was making frantic efforts to address some of their challenges.

    Daybreak reports that the following sub-stations were inspected: Modern Market, Industrial Layout, Barrack Road, International Market and Government House.