From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Benue State House of Assembly has recommended for the immediate suspension of the elected Council Chairmen in the 23 local government areas of the state.
They also recommended that the legislative councils also be suspended for conniving with the Executive Councils to mismanage public funds put in their trust.
The House has, however, urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to proceed to set up caretaker committees in line with the Benue State Local Government law.
Recall that House, on Tuesday, set up a three man Ad-hoc Committee chaired by member representing Katsina Ala West State Constituency, Mr. Peter Ipusu with Mr. Manger Manger of Tarka and Mr. Cyril Ekong of Oju II State Constituencies as members, to investigate the income and expenditures of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
During Wednesday plenary, Chairman of the committee while addressing the House, Chairman of the Committee, Hon Peter Ipusu, informed that the committee has considered the report in line with the Financial Memorandum of the Local Government and other extant rules governing the management of funds in the Local Government in Benue state.
He said the committee is worried by the outright disregard to procedure and crass mismanagement of Local Government funds for the period under review stating that there is a need for a more detailed investigation of the operations of the local government beyond the period under review to cover from June 2015 to May 2023.
“The House is requested to note that section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) gives the House of Assembly the right to legislate on matters concerning the Local Government and also authorizes the State House of Assembly to perform oversight functions over the Local Government Councils.”
Speaking further, Hon. Ipusu, on behalf of the committee prayed the House to extend the period of review to cover for the entire tenure of the out gone administration (June 2015 to May 2023).
He stated that “In order to conduct the review without any interference, the committee recommends the immediate suspension of Executive Council Chairmen in all the 23 local government councils and also the legislative councils for conniving with the Executive Councils to mismanage public funds put in their trust.
“The Council Chairmen are hereby directed to hand over the affairs of the Local Government Councils, all government properties in their possession, including official vehicles, to the DGSAs with immediate effect and proceed on suspension pending the completion of investigation into their books of accounts and other related matters.”
The House urged the Governor should proceed to set up caretaker committees in line with the Benue State Local Government law.
The House also called on the state Commissioner of Police, C0 Julius Okoro to ensure a seamless takeover at the various Local Government Council Headquarters without any friction.