The Benue State House of Assembly has rejected the nomination of Dr. Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner-designate, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to forward another candidate from Kwande Local Government Area.
The decision followed a petition submitted by a group of lawyers, who were reportedly former students of Dr. Ornguga during his time as a lecturer at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, formerly Benue State University.
The petition accused Dr. Ornguga of gross abuse of power and unethical conduct, alleging that he subjected students to degrading treatment, administered frivolous assessments, and discriminated against non-Tiv students.
According to the petitioners, one of the discriminatory practices involved forcing non-Tiv students to spell his Tiv full name correctly during examinations, with heavy penalties for those who failed. They further alleged that his actions caused emotional distress to many students and reflected a lack of ethical judgment and emotional intelligence required for leadership.
The lawyers urged the Assembly to reject the nomination, arguing that Dr. Ornguga’s past conduct made him unfit for public service.
Lawmakers, after deliberations, upheld the concerns, emphasizing that the appointment of commissioners must be subjected to thorough vetting to ensure only credible individuals occupy public office.
Governor Alia is now expected to forward a new nominee from Kwande Local Government Area to fill the slot.
The rejection underscores the growing demand for accountability and integrity in public appointments, particularly as Benue State navigates reforms under the current administration.
