The Benue State House of Assembly has urged Gov. Hyacinth Alia to suspend the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Grace Adagba, for six months over misconduct.
The lawmakers who took the decision after a motion moved by the Chief Whip, Mr Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West), during Tuesday’s plenary in Makurdi want the chairman to stay away from all matters relating to the board.
The lawmakers said that the suspension would give the assembly access to carry out its oversight in the board.
Ipusu said that the house, during its plenary on July 21, deliberated on a motion titled “Motion for the House to Embark on a Statewide Verification of Contracts”.
“After a robust debate, the house resolved to constitute a seven-man ad hoc committee to ascertain the true status of completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by Alia’s government from inception to date and report back to the house within four weeks.
“The ad hoc committee has extended several invitations to the Executive Chairman of SUBEB; she, however, declined to appear before the committee without any satisfactory explanation.
“In one of her letters she had clearly stated that the house has no right to investigate contracts from the board.
“It has, therefore, become very clear that she is deliberately hindering the house from carrying out its constitutional mandate of oversight,” Ipusu said.
He said that allowing the chairman to remain actively involved while the committee conducts its assignment may create a conflict of interest, undermine public confidence or jeopardise the integrity of the lawmakers’ investigation.
Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), who seconded the motion, decried the board’s lack of cooperation with the house under the chairmanship of her current chairman.
Also, Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) said that SUBEB was established by law; therefore, it cannot act as an independent entity, and the house will be barred from carrying out an oversight function.
Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) said that the chairman had always disrespected the house whenever she was called to appear before it.
Dugeri encouraged the house to stick to their decision of suspending the chairman, reiterating that they should take the decision and stand by it.
Ruling, the Speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, said that the house was committed to upholding the principle of accountability and good governance in all matters of public interest.
Benue Assembly suspends 5 members for 3 sittings
Meanwhile, the Benue State House of Assembly has suspended five of its members for three legislative sittings for withholding vital information.
The suspended members were said to have given incomplete information in their report on the investigation of the alleged financial misconduct of Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman, Mr Maxwell Ogiri.
The decision was taken after the report of the house ad hoc committee to investigate members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on Tuesday in Makurdi.
In a lead debate, a member of the ad hoc committee, Mr Solomon Gyila (APC/Gwer West), said that members of the committee tampered with the report, stating that some useful information was excluded from the report.
Gyila said that some of the issues that were not included in the report were the diversion of the council funds by the Otukpo LGA chairman.
He said that Ogiri even sold government property, but the report that was presented by the committee was at variance with the collective decision of the members.
Also, Mr Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) said that the chairman of the committee, Mr Terna Shimawua (APC/Kyan), should be suspended for three months for tampering with the report.
Berger said that Shimawua hid some things which the ad hoc committee had uncovered.
Also, Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) said that security agencies should be directed to take over the premises of Otukpo LGA to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) encouraged his colleagues to be very careful with the issue of suspending members, stating it was demoralising.
Audu said that members of the house should be suspended from the committee and not from the house for a period of three months.
Ruling, the Speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, said that members of the committee would be suspended for three legislative sittings.
Dajoh said that for the time being he would be the chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He said that chairmen of councils do not have power to lock the chamber of the local government legislative councils.
The suspended members are Mr Terna Shimawua (APC/Kyan), Mr Matthew Damkor (APC/Tiev), Mr Cephas Dyako (APC/Konshisha), Mr Moses Egbodo (APC/Obi), and Mr Isaac Ochekyele (PDP/Ohimini).