By Amos Aar
THE Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday summoned the committees set up by Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, to appear before it unfailingly on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the Benue State House of Assembly complex by 10 am to explain the public outcry allegedly caused by their recent activities.
The committees were set up by the governor to seize all assets said to have been acquired illegally under the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, including vehicles, houses, land, etc.
During Tuesday’s plenary which held at the old banquet hall of Government House, Makurdi owing to ongoing renovation work on the Assembly Complex, the House particularly summoned the governor’s committees on: Staff and Salary Verification, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)/Teaching Service Board (TSB), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The House equally summoned the Auditor General of State and Local Government to appear before it on the same date.
The above summoned Assets Recovery committees are to appear before an adhoc committee set up by the Benue State House of Assembly for the verification of staff/civil servants’ Salaries and wage bill.
The ad hoc committee has Hon. Esther Tiseer as chairman while Hon. Matthew Damkor, Hon. Gyila Solomon, Hon. Manger Manger, Hon. Yanmar Ortese, Hon. Michael Audu, Hon. Kennedy Angbo, Hon. Blessed Onah, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu and Hon. Abraham Jabi are members.
The Benue State House of Assembly appealed to those affected by the recent verification, Unions, groups, and association not to embark on protest but allow the adhoc committee to carry out its fact-finding mission to resolve the issues.
The decision of the Assembly may be sequel to a call by the Benue State Chapter of the NUT on Governor Hyacinth Alia to explain “illegal deductions” from their salaries, declaration of 2500 teachers as ghost workers among other issues which National Record had earlier reported on.
