TheNewsGuru

Tag: Benue State

  • SUBEB chair asked to refund N2bn to LG bureau

    SUBEB chair asked to refund N2bn to LG bureau

    The Benue State House of Assembly has ordered Mrs Grace Adagba, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), to refund the sum of N2.1 billion to the coffers of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    The decision follows a report of the house ad-hoc committee, which investigated the activities of the caretaker committees of the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer, Chairman of the committee, said that the expected refund of N2.1 billion by the SUBEB Chairman was the balance of the funds received from the bureau between December 2023 and June 2024.

    Tiseer said that the bureau received on behalf of the 23 local governments a total sum of N66.8 from September 2023 to May 2024.

    “Out of this amount, N12 billion was released to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), N3.98 billion to the Primary Health Care Board, and N107 million was released to the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) as a one per cent training fund.

    “Also, the sum of N3.9 billion went to the State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA),” Tiseer said.

    The majority leader reiterated that the amount SUBEB received was for salaries of primary school teachers between December 2023 and June 2024.

    He, however, noted that the board only spent N9.97 billion as a monthly salary of primary school teachers for the period under review, leaving a balance of N2.1 billion that had not been accounted for.

    Tiseer stated that local government council officials were compelled to sign blank papers with which officials of the bureau withdrew huge sums of money from the local governments accounts.

    The majority leader further noted that the bureau mandated security secretaries to pay N9 million from the supposed N10 million security vote for each local government back to the bureau through a designated account.

    “This amounted to N1.7 billion from October 2023 to June 2024 for the 22 local government councils visited.

    “Most of the local government councils failed to submit salary pay vouchers (PVs) requested by the ad hoc committee. The few PVs submitted were doctored with evidence of multiple payments.

    “Also, most of the local government councils visited had very low revenue profiles, and the little amount generated was not banked as required by extant laws,” he added.

    Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) said that the report had exposed the rot that bedevilled the local governments.

    Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) urged the house to write to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the rot in the local government system in Benue.

    The speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajo, said that the State and Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee should be scrapped to allow local government councils to receive allocations directly into their accounts.

    Dajo said that doing so would enable them to deliver quality services to the rural people.

    The speaker further ordered the former special adviser to the governor on the Bureau for Local Government to refund the sum of N1.7 billion within one month with proof of payment to the house.

    The sum, he said, was the withdrawal from the total sum of the N9 million approved for security votes of 22 local government councils from October 2023 to June 2024 for nine months.

    He also warned local government councils against refusal to disclose official information to the house, stressing that failure to supply official information to the house would attract sanctions henceforth.

    Dajo further charged the councils to harness the revenue potentials in their respective areas in order to complement the monthly allocations for effective service delivery to the people better.

  • Benue Assembly orders suspension of teachers recruitment

    Benue Assembly orders suspension of teachers recruitment

    The Benue State House of Assembly has directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to halt the ongoing teachers recruitment process.

    The House gave the order following a motion by Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) on Thursday during plenary in Makurdi. The motion was co-moved by Mr Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West).

    Akya noted that the job advertisement placed by the board gave Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelors in Education (B. ED) as requirements for employment.

    He said that in November 2024, the board released names of successful applicants in the Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted and subsequently scheduled the applicants for screening beginning from December 2, 2024.

    He further stated that the board had shortlisted graduates who do not have qualifications in education contrary to the requirements specified in the
    advertisement released prior to the test conducted.

    “This is in addition to the failure of the board to shortlist qualified candidates for the exercise. The manipulative picture portrayed by this development goes against the governor’s good intention to uplift the standard of education and revamp public primary schools,” Akya said.

    He commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia for approving the employment of teachers by the board to revive basic education in Benue.

    He urged the house to invite the chairman of the board to explain the circumstances surrounding the sudden introduction of those with non-professional degrees in education with cut-off marks of just 25 per cent for the same aptitude test that NCE and B.ED holders were required.

    Mr Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) seconded the motion, stressing that their constituents were depending on them to sanitise the system.

    Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), during his contribution, called for the suspension of the recruitment exercise indefinitely.

    Mr Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West) corroborated Audu, adding that a committee be set to investigate the process of the exercise.

    Mr Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East) said that it was the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) that was saddled with the responsibility of recruiting teachers.

    Agbidye added that the authority usually conducts the recruitment of the junior staff, stating that even the senior staff, the authority conducts the exercise while the SUBEB supervises.

    The Speaker, Hyacinth Dajo, directed the board to suspend the exercise indefinitely. Dajo further directed the chairman of the board to appear before the house on Tuesday at executive session.

  • HoS addresses Benue striking judiciary workers

    HoS addresses Benue striking judiciary workers

    The Benue State Head of Service (HoS), Dr Agbogbo Ode, has said that all categories of Benue workers would benefit from the N75,000 new minimum wage.

    Ode said this on Monday in Makurdi while stressing that the judiciary workers delayed in supplying necessary information to the committee for inclusion.

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue branch, on December 6th directed all members to embark on an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

    They relied on the directives of their Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigena Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an indefinite strike.

    But Ode said all Benue workers were included in the new minimum wage, adding that the judiciary workers were responsible for the delay in the implementation of their own.

    The HoS explained that he had directed all organs to make former requests but JUSUN complied late.

    He further said that even when they submitted their request and the template was applied, they disagreed with the technical committee over figures that it was not the same with their own but refused to notify him about it.

    Ode further said that instead of meeting him over it, they went and announced an indefinite strike.

    The HoS said that the leadership of the union was already meeting with the technical committee and the report would be submitted to him by 12 noon on Monday.

    He said if the difference was within his approval limit, he would immediately approve it, but if it was beyond him, the governor would act accordingly.

    Ode emphasised that the judiciary workers would all receive their November minimum wage like other workers in the state.

  • Gov Alia appoints new head for LG Bureau

    Gov Alia appoints new head for LG Bureau

    Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Monday appointed Mr Denen Aondoakaa as the new Head, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    The appointment was announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Makurdi.

    Until his appointment, Aondoakaa was the Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to the Governor in charge of the Delivery Unit. The appointee was a one-time branch operational manager at Fidelity Bank.

    He previously worked at the Jos Electricity Distribution Company Makurdi Regional Office as Head of Revenue Optimisation and served as a Technical Advisor at Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS).

    Aondoakaa holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Economics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance. According to the statement, his appointment takes immediate effect.

    Meanwhile, Alia has also redeployed the former head of the bureau, Dr Denis Akura, to serve as Adviser, Financial and Economic Strategy, Planning, and Development.

  • Unknown gunmen kill lawyer in Benue

    Unknown gunmen kill lawyer in Benue

    The Benue Command of the Nigerian Police Force has confirmed the killing of Mike Ofikwu, an Otukpo-based lawyer, by unknown gunmen. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the killing in Makurdi on Thursday.

    Anene said the deceased was shot at about 8.00pm on Wednesday outside his home on Otukpa Street, Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government Area. She told NAN that a full investigation into the matter had commenced.

    Meanwhile, an eyewitness disclosed that Ofikwu was shot at close range at his gate. The eyewitness said neighbours rushed him to the hospital, but he didn’t survive due to excessive blood loss.

    Also, a lawyer who doesn’t want his name mentioned, said he died at the Federal University of Health Science Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, on Thursday morning.

    “Yes, he is my callmate and the current NBA Secretary of the Otukpo Branch. I was with him in the hospital until he finally gave up the ghost early this morning (Thursday).

    “He was attacked at the gate of his house when he came back from work and was about to be driven in. Seven gunmen shot him several times and even cut his hand with a machete.

    “He died at the Federal University of Health Science Teaching Hospital, Otukpo while receiving treatment, at about 1.40 a.m. We deposited his remains in the mortuary of the same hospital,” he said.

  • Bill to rename Benue varsity passes first reading

    Bill to rename Benue varsity passes first reading

    A bill to rename the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi to Moses Orshio Adasu University has passed first reading at the Benue State House Assembly.

    The bill was read during Wednesday plenary by the acting Clerk of the House, Mr John Hwande.

    Also during the plenary, a bill for the establishment of Benue State University of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, Ihugh, in Vandeikya local government area also passed first.

    Three other bills also passed first reading. The bills include a bill for a law to amend a free and compulsory basic education and a bill for a law to establish a task force on quality healthcare and prevention of quackery in the state.

    Two out of the bills, which were from the executive, were presented to the house by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer.

    The others were presented by the member representing Gboko East Constituency, Mrs. Becky Orpin, and that of Kwande West, Mr Thomas Dugeri.

    The Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, who presided over plenary, referred them to the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative scrutiny.

  • Benue Assembly summons newly elected LG chairmen

    Benue Assembly summons newly elected LG chairmen

    The Benue State House of Assembly, presided over by its Speaker, Aondoana Dajoh, has summoned the 23 local government council chairmen and directors, general services, and administrations to appear before it over exploitation.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 23 local government council chairmen were all elected in October under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The State House of Assembly, during its Tuesday plenary, also summoned all the heads of revenue departments of the councils to appear before it on Friday. The decision follows a motion by Mr Moses Egbodo, Co-Chairman, Joint Committee on Finance, Trade, and Industry.

    Egbodo informed his colleagues that the local government officials refused to appeal before the joint committee to answer questions on the exploitative use of unapproved sacks.

    The legislator said that the invited officials refused to use the Benue Sacks that were approved for markets in the state.

    Mr Abu Umoru, who is also a co-chairman of the committee, expressed displeasure that the officials undermined the authority of the house. Umoro stated that a sensitive issue bordering on the exploitation of farmers should not be treated with kid gloves.

    The Speaker, in his ruling, directed that the council chairmen, their DGSAs, and heads of revenue appear before the house on Friday unfailingly.

  • Gov Alia approves improved minimum wage for Benue workers

    Gov Alia approves improved minimum wage for Benue workers

    Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has approved a minimum wage of ₦75,000 for workers in the State.

    Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, announced the new wage after he met with organised labour representatives on Monday in Makurdi.

    The governor said that the new minimum wage would take effect in November 2024.

    He stated that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of salary arrears promised workers would be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget.

    He emphasised that the arrias  would be paid along with the new minimum wage.

    “We decided to set the wage at ₦75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations.

    “These concerns included a minimum wage of N30,000, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

    “Recall that the President had approved the sum of N70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organised labour regarding our ability to pay,” he said.

    Alia restated his administration’s commitment to serve the common man and stressed that he would do everything legitimately possible to ensure that Benue workers were properly taken care of.

    The governor added that his motivation to ensure the arrears were paid was to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers.

  • Benue govt set to enact electricity law

    Benue govt set to enact electricity law

    The Benue State Government says it is working on enacting an electricity law to regulate the state energy sector. Mr Omale Omale, Commissioner for Transport, Renewable Energy, and Power, made the disclosure on Sunday in Makurdi.

    Omale said that a draft of the bill was at the Ministry of Justice for vetting and onward presentation to the state executive council. The commissioner stated that the bill would be sent to the House of Assembly as an executive bill as soon as the executive council approved it.

    “The law will address the energy needs in unserved and underserved communities in the state. There are some communities that don’t have electricity infrastructure networks, which represent the unserved group, while there are others with the infrastructure but don’t get regular electricity. As a ministry, we know the energy needs of all Benue people, and we are working on it,” he said.

    Omale said the new electricity act gives states the opportunity to join the energy market, generate, distribute, and regulate electricity within their states.

    Mrs Jennifer Tema, a 67-year-old restaurant owner, told NAN that the regular collapse of the national grid had cost so much damage to her business. Tema said she had been recording losses of her perishable foods worth millions of Naira as a result of the recurring power outage.

    “In recent times, we have witnessed a bit of steady power supply, but this issue of the national grid has really cost me a lot of damage. My generator cannot take more than two freezers at a time. I lost over N2 million in the recent power outage. This is really affecting my business.

    “I just hope that state government will rise up to the occasion and get alternative energy sources for us to mitigate these losses,” she said.

    Another resident, Dennis Tyosula, who operates a computer centre and betting shop in Makurdi, said lack of steady power supply was affecting his businesses.

    Tyosula said he was buying fuel between N1,200 and N1,350 per litre to power the generators at his two shops and, as a result, was not making any profit but incurring losses. According to him, he uses between 16 and 18 litres of fuel daily when there is no power supply.

  • My administration is moving at 350km/h – Gov Alia

    My administration is moving at 350km/h – Gov Alia

    Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has said that his administration was moving at 350 kilometres per hour to ensure that people get maximum democratic benefits.

    Alia stated this at the opening of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State triennial delegates conference on Friday in Makurdi.

    The governor, who was represented by Technical Adviser on Media, Mr Solomon Iorpev, said that the administration was not slow as wrongly perceived by the naysayers.

    He said that he was determined and prepared to leave lasting legacies in the state, especially in the lives of the less privileged.

    “We are moving at the speed of N350 kilometres per hour, but some people think we are slow. The perceived slow pace is because we have a huge deficit we have to cover.

    “The deficit is, as a result of the inaction or failures of successive administrations, which we are struggling to address. However, you can attest to the fact that the government is doing very well in almost all sectors,” he said.

    Alia, who declared the delegate conference open, commended Benue journalists for reconciling their differences and coming together to elect their officials.

    According to him, he needed a united NUJ to effectively report his activities and pledged his continued support to the union.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr Matthew Abo, expressed joy that peace finally returned to the Benue Council of the union.

    Abo tasked journalists to continue to report the truth and inform society on the happenings.

    “As the fourth estate of the realm, your duty is to mirror the society and tell it what it needs to know and how the society needs to operate in a democratic setting.

    “Journalists are entrusted with the key role of telling society the truth. So your reporting of issues, events, and personalities must be factual, timely, accurate, and relevant. The people depend on you to know things happening around them far and near.

    “I am challenging you to wake up to this responsibility because the government of Gov. Hyacinth Alia is doing a lot of wonderful development yet the people are hearing very little about it,” he said.

    He charged journalists to always revert to the ministry about the policies, programs, and projects of the government so that the world would know what is going on in the state.

    In his welcome address, Caretaker/Credentials Chairman, Comrade Vincent Nyinongu, said all the positions were unopposed except the position of vice chairman that would be contested.