The Benue State House of Assembly has withheld approval for Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commissioner nominees, setting tough conditions that must be met before any screening takes place.
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During Thursday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, lawmakers refused to act on the governor’s letter requesting legislative clearance for the nominees.
The decision stemmed from a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Shimapever Jiji, who accused Governor Alia of ignoring all Assembly resolutions and treating members with “total disregard.”
Hon. Pharm. Thomas Dugeri, backing the motion, faulted the governor for failing to address earlier issues raised by the legislature, describing his approach as disrespectful to the Assembly’s authority.
According to Terver Zamber, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, lawmakers stressed that their stance was not aimed at crippling governance but at compelling the executive to respect legislative independence and honour prior agreements.
The Assembly’s conditions for proceeding with the screening include:
1. Provision of official vehicles to affected members.
2. Enforcement of the suspension of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman.
3. Enforcement of the suspension of the Otukpo Local Government Council Chairman.
4. Enforcement of the suspension of the Executive Secretary, Benue State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board.
Until these demands are met, the House resolved it would not entertain any correspondence from the executive, including the commissioner nominees’ screening request.
