…Orders Suspension Of Payment To Contractors
By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State House of Assembly has constituted a seven-man ad hoc committee to carry out a comprehensive state-wide contract verification exercise.
This decision, taken during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh, is to investigate compliance with due process in the award and execution of contracts across the state.
The terms of reference of the committee, led by Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu, include the determination of whether contracts were duly advertised, assessment of the capacity of contractors, evaluation of design analyses, and verification of the accuracy of contract sums.
Following the resolution, the House directed the Commissioner of Finance, Michael Ogleba, to suspend all payments to contractors pending the outcome of the verification exercise.
The motion, presented as a matter of urgent public importance by the member representing Makurdi North State Constituency, Hon. Alfred Emberga Berger, drew attention to concerns about irregularities and the slow pace of work by some contractors.
Hon. Berger warned that the continued silence of the Assembly on these issues could fuel public speculation and damage the image of the current administration. The ad hoc committee has been given one month to complete its assignment and submit a report.
In a related development, the House has summoned Commissioner Ogleba and the Head of Service, Agbogbo Ode, to appear before it on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
The Commissioner is to provide the House with a detailed breakdown of the state’s total wage bill, including salaries, allowances, and other personnel-related costs.
The Head of Service is expected to furnish lawmakers with the total number of staff currently on the state’s payroll, categorized by ministries, departments, and agencies.
During the same sitting, the Assembly also suspended the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board, Mr. Michael Uper, for six months over alleged diversion and misappropriation of state revenue.
The Assembly also resolved that Uper’s activities be investigated within the suspension period. If found culpable, he would be required to refund all illegally diverted funds to the state’s consolidated revenue account and face removal from office.
Also summoned to appear before the House on July 29 is the Chairman of the Benue State Local Government Civil Service Commission. The summon seeks clarification on alleged irregularities surrounding the recent promotion of staff within the commission.
The House further condemned the recent killing of Mr. Ternenge Iorkyaa Ikpanor and other indigenes of Mbaduku in the ongoing crisis between Mbaduku and Obudu communities.
Lawmakers called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to collaborate with his Cross River State counterpart to resolve the conflict and restore peace.
Despite the flurry of motions and resolutions passed by the Benue State House of Assembly since the beginning of the current administration, there remains widespread concern among observers about the lack of tangible compliance or meaningful change.
Many people are sceptical about whether the latest resolutions will translate into real action or merely add to a pattern of symbolic gestures.
