- Rejects Governor’s Nominee As BSIEC Scribe
By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State House of Assembly has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to unfreeze without further delay the state’s bank accounts which he had frozen in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Kwande West state constituency, Hon. Thomas Dugeri. The motion was seconded by Hon. Cephas Dyako, member representing Konshisha state constituency at Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh.
In the debate following the motion, lawmakers frowned at the continued freezing of the accounts which they said has rendered ministries, departments and departments (MDAs) hopeless, paralyzed and unable to render effective services to the people of the state.
The House particularly noted that over nine months into the life of the administration, it still remained difficult for the governor to initiate the process to reopen the accounts, rendering whatever transactions that were hanging on the government accounts ineffective as the lifespan of signed and dated cheques is six months.
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In a counter-motion, Hon. Shimawua Emmanuel, member representing Kyan constituency, and seconded by Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, member representing Makurdi North, admonished the House not to run to a hasty conclusion on why the governor had frozen the accounts. The counter-motion however failed through voice votes.
The house resolved that Governor Alia should, in the interest of the state, unfreeze the accounts for the smooth running of MDAs but initiate processes to block all leakages.
House reject Alia’s nominee as scribe of BSIEC
Meanwhile the lawmakers, also on Thursday, rejected Dr Gisaor Vincent, the governor’s nominee for the position of Secretary to the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
The lawmakers turned down Dr Gisaor’s nomination on the allegation that he abused Tiv ethnicity on Facebook.
Gisaor was screened alongside Hon. Terhemen Shom as BSIEC member 1 out of eight nominees that had been forwarded to the assembly by Governor Alia.
The alleged abusive post on Facebook by Gisaor reads: “TYO MU
“yesterday was Ihyarev and Kparev, Masev were supporting Ihyarev.
“Today is Ihyarev and Masev, all are running to Kparev for refuge”.
“Me: ka ikpongo tswar I Tiv…..!!!!”. Meaning: “it is the nyash (anus) of Tiv.”
He stated this while faulting Tiv people of warring against themselves in different communities.
The six other nominees, including the chairman, were stepped down for another legislative day for submitting incomplete curriculum vitae (CVs).
In a related development, the House queried the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Urban Development, Tiza Imojime, why he failed to honor the invitation of the House standing Committee on Works and Housing.
The commissioner, after tendering an apology, said his actions were never deliberate but a breach in communication which he promised would never happen again.
The House also interrogated the chairman, Local Government Service Commission over his appointment of Directors, General Services and Administration (DGSAs), expressing displeasure at the way and manner in which the appointments were made without proper balancing.
The House asked the chairman to bring the list of appointees to the House within 7 working days.
