Benue Assembly screens BSIEC members, task Gov Alia to unfreeze all state accounts

…. Process  to remove all restrictions placed on accounts ongoing- Alia 

From Attah Ede Makurdi

The Benue State House of Assembly, has directed Governor Hyacinth Alia, to immediately unfreeze the state accounts which he ordered to be frozen during his inaugural speech on May 29th, 2023.

The house  said unfreezing the State accounts at this period would ensure the smooth running of ministries, Departments, and Agencies. 

The directive  followed a motion moved by a member representing Kwande West State Constituency, Thomas Dugeri, and seconded by the member representing Konshisha State Constituency Cephas Dyako. 

Debating on the motion, the house frowned at the continuous freezing of the accounts which has rendered ministries, and departments hopeless, paralyzed, and unable to render effective services to the people of the state.

The house is particularly worried that, it is over nine months into the life of the administration, and wonder why is it taking so long for the Governor to initiate the process to render whatever transactions that were hanging on the government accounts ineffective adding that all cheques life span is six months. 

Contributing to the motion,  member representing Kyan state constituency,  Shimawua Emmanuel moved a counter motion which was seconded by Berger Alfred Emberga who is representing Makurdi North.

He  called on the house not to run to a hasty conclusion on why the state Governor has allowed the accounts to be frozen.

However, their counter motion failed through voice votes. 

The sitting which was presided over by the speaker, Aondona Dajoh, resolved that the Governor should in the interest of the state, unfreeze the state Accounts for the smooth running of the MDAs. 

Also at plenary , the house screened two out of the Eight Members of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission and confirmed one. 

Those screened were Terhemen Shom and Gisaor Vincent, while Shom Terhemen was confirmed, Gisaor Vincent’s nomination was rejected after screening for issues bothering on  his social media outburst  on Facebook where he made comments insulting the Tiv nation, ” Ka Ikpongu Tswar I Tiv”.

The other members including the Chairman were stepped down for another legislative day for submitting incomplete CVs. 

Also, the commissioner for Works, housing and urban development, Tiza Imojime honored the invitation of the house where he was asked to explain why he has failed to honor the invitation of the house standing on works and Housing. 

The commissioner after tendering an apology to the House said his actions were never deliberate but a breach in communication which he promised would never happen again. 

In another development, the House grilled the Chairman local government service commission over his appointments of DGSAs. 

 The house shows displeasure at the manner in which the appointments were  made without proper balancing and asked the chairman to bring the list of those appointments to the house within 7 working days. 

Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, said the  temporary restrictions placed on all government accounts upon assumption of office has yielded positive outcome, saying process to unfreeze the accounts are already ongoing.

He explained that the decision was necessitated by the genuine aim to protect government assets and to instill much needed accountability in public expenditure. 

According to the governor, the singular move saved the state a lot of money, freeing up much-needed resources for use in the interest of Benue people. 

Alia who spoke  through his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula in statement extended appreciation to Benue workers and people of the state for their understanding and supports.

He maintained that on attainment of the objectives set by the government before the commencement of this policy, the Governor recently instructed the Ministry of Finance to put measures in place to remove all restrictions placed on accounts. 

“This action is ongoing and will be completed as soon as possible. 

“The Ministry of Finance will be providing updates on this and other matters relating to fiscal responsibility, public procurement and financial reporting to the public soon”.

He disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia has constituted a committee to review the minimum wage and make recommendations to the government.

According to him, the committee is headed by the Secretary to the state government, with the Head of Service and several heads of MDAs as members. The committee has since held its inaugural meeting and will be collaborating with organized labour. 

The CPS stressed that the government state is conscious of the economic challenges the nation is experiencing and will do its best to provide its citizens succour in the prevailing circumstances