The Benue State House of Assembly has set strict conditions for Governor Hyacinth Alia before it will screen and confirm his nominees for commissioner positions in the state executive council.
During Thursday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, lawmakers declined to honour the governor’s correspondence seeking legislative approval for the nominees.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Shimapever Jiji, who accused the governor of disregarding all resolutions passed by the Assembly and treating members with “total disregard.”
Supporting the motion, Hon. Pharm. Thomas Dugeri said the governor had failed to address pressing issues earlier raised by the House, describing his actions as disrespectful to the hallowed chamber.
According to a statement issued by Terver Zamber, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker and obtained by Citizen Television, legislators stressed that their move was not to stall governance but to ensure that the executive arm respects legislative independence and fulfils prior commitments.
The House demanded that Governor Alia must:
1. Provide official vehicles to the affected members of the Assembly.
2. Enforce the suspension orders against the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
3. Enforce the suspension of the Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman.
4. Enforce the suspension of the Executive Secretary, Benue State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board.
Until these conditions are met, the Assembly resolved that it will not entertain any correspondence from the executive, including the request to screen commissioner nominees.
