The Benue State House of Assembly has halted the screening of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commissioner nominees, insisting that the executive must first comply with its earlier resolutions.
The decision was reached on Friday in Makurdi shortly after Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh read the governor’s letter submitting the proposed cabinet list.
Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) said that while screening nominees was part of their constitutional duty, unresolved issues between the legislature and the executive must be addressed first. He emphasised that lawmakers had consistently supported the governor but would no longer proceed without mutual respect and compliance with Assembly resolutions.
Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) noted that the submission of nominees showed the governor acknowledged their legislative role, but decried delays in constituency allowances and incomplete renovation of the Assembly chambers. He also lamented that seven members were yet to receive official vehicles, urging colleagues to adjourn sittings sine die until the governor responded to their grievances.
Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) likened the situation to a “state of nature,” accusing the executive of ignoring key resolutions, such as the unfreezing of state accounts. Manger Manger (APC/Tarka) alleged that constituency service funds included in the budget had not been released, backing calls to suspend further legislative consideration of executive requests.
Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpo-Akpa) said the executive’s disregard for resolutions was emboldening ministry and agency heads to snub Assembly invitations, while Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala) urged caution against a full shutdown of proceedings but agreed to delay screening until compliance was ensured.
Other lawmakers, including Michael Audu (PDP/Adoka-Ugboju), Abu Edoh (PDP/Agatu), and William Ortyom (PDP/Agasha), opposed an indefinite adjournment, warning it could disrupt legislative obligations. Ortyom criticised the poor welfare conditions, revealing that the Assembly still sits on plastic chairs two years after renovation work began.
In his ruling, Speaker Dajoh directed the governor to implement the Assembly’s resolutions and suspend the SUBEB Chair, the Otukpo Council Chairman, and the Sports Lottery Board Executive Secretary. He warned that unless demands — including the provision of vehicles for the seven members — were met, the Assembly would not honour further correspondence from the governor.
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