Ex- federal lawmaker,Ikeawe laments non payment of N30m constituency  allowance to Benue

From, Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Ex- member of the Federal House of Representatives from Benue State, Goddy Ikerave, has described the non release of constituency allowance to members of the Benue State House of Assembly as “worrisome and undemocratic.

He therefore advised members of the State Assembly to work in unison for their benefits and that of their constituencies.

Ikerave, a one time chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalist, Benue State council gave the advice on Thursday while reacting to the report of non-payment of  N30million Constituency  allowance and  denial of members  of Benue State  Assembly of their official vehicles.

The former lawmaker who represented Gwer West/Gwer East federal constituency  between 1999 & 2003 also stated that states assembly have power to summon their state governor if there is any grey areas that needs more clarification on any issue concerning their affairs.

There have been reports of the state governor, Hyacinth Alia denied some assembly members of their constitutional entitlements, such as non release of N30 million constituency allowance and official vehicles.

Though, spokesman to the state governor, Solomon Iorpev and Majority leader of the State Assembly have said that the delay in procuring enough vehicles for all members and release of constituency allowance were caused by autonomy granted the house after 2024 budget was passed.

According to the governor’s media aide,  Solomon Iorpev said that the governor had reached an agreement with the lawmakers.

He said, “If anything is happening, it’s for a reason and am sure the lawmakers also understand, that is the reason none of them has raised any eyebrows.

Also, the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, Saater Tiseer said  that the autonomy granted to the state assembly after the 2024 budget had been passed was responsible for the challenges and submitted that the 2025 budget have taken care of them.

The former lawmaker said that the state assembly can summon the state governor to explain why some lawmakers have been denied their constitutionally entitlements.

He said, “I will lay the blame at the doorsteps of the leadership of the house, they should invite the Governor to state reasons why these members have been denied their constitutional entitlements”.

“The  legislative arm is empowered constitutionally to invite the Chief Executive  of the State from time to time to the Assembly on issues bordering on governance of the state for which he was elected.

The former lawmaker expressed worries that  some members of legislative arm  would be denied of what is due to them and the leadership and other members of the house would  keep mute over same .

Corrobarating this,  a former member of the State House of Assembly during the 4th and 5th Assembly  who pleaded not to be mentioned  blamed  the leadership of the State House of Assembly for the anomalies.

He accused the assembly leadership over its  nonchalant attitude to their colleagues and described it as  lack of cohesion among members of the house.

The lawmaker submitted that  during the  4th  and 5th Assembly where he was a lawmaker, members spoke in unison on varying  issues bothering on their colleagues irrespective of  their  party affiliation and leaning.