By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry 2024 inaugurated by Governor Hyacinth Alia on February 27, 2024 to investigate the activities of government under the 2-term administration of immediate past Governor Samuel Ortom has called for memoranda from the public.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo (rtd), in a press release on Thursday said memoranda which are to be addressed to the Chairman, Benue State Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry 2024, should be submitted in eleven hard copies and one soft copy at Court 6, located opposite Nigerian Immigration Service Command, Makurdi, Benue State capital, not later than 14 days from the date of the publication.
“To help the Commission carry out its assignment effectively and timeously, the Commission hereby invites MEMORANDA from the members of the public; financial institutions/banks; the 23 local government councils of Benue State; ministries, departments and agencies,” the press release stated as it outlined the commission’s 15 terms of reference, which include the following:
“a. To identify the income of Benue State Government from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May 2023.
“b. To look into the expenditure and utilization of the income of Benue State from 29th day of May, 2015 to the 28th day of May, 2023.
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“c. Identify all the Benue State Bank accounts and examine the propriety or otherwise of the transactions in the accounts from the 29th day of May, 2015 to the 28th day of May, 2023.
“d. To identify the loans taken by Benue State Government from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023 and ascertain the appropriateness of the utilization, interest charged on the loans and the possible abuses thereof.
“e. To identify the loans given out by the Benue State Government, the alleged waivers and the possible abuses thereof.
“f. To identify the special interventions including but not limited to the Bailout Funds, Paris Club Refunds received by the Benue State Government from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023 and their application thereof.
“g. To determine the internally generated revenue and the utilization of same.
“h. Identify cases of misappropriation, abuse, misuse and diversion of Benue State funds from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023.
“i. Identify such persons that were involved in the misappropriation, abuse, misuse and diversion of Benue State funds the 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023 and suggest the appropriate actions thereof.
“j. Identify all the contracts that were issued by the Benue State Government from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023 and examine whether due process was followed in issuing such contracts and whether such contracts were actually executed.
“k. To identify the actual wage bill of Benue State Government and payment thereof from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023.
“l. To identify all the ghost workers who were paid salaries from 29th May, 2015 to 28th May, 2023.
“m. To review all such transactions and advise government on the appropriate action in the interest of the people and good governance.
“n. And to act on all other matters connected thereto.
“o. For the purpose of this instrument, Benue State Funds shall include the Income and Expenditure of the 23 Local Governments in Benue State.
