Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate suspension of the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen in the state as well as the Local Government Legislative Councils over alleged mismanagement of public funds.
The recommendations was sequel to the interim report presented on the floor of the House by the Mr. Peter Ipusu-led three man adhoc committee set up by the Speaker, Mr. Aondona Dajoh to look into the financial records of the 23 Local Government Council from February to April, 2023.
The setting up of the committee followed a correspondence from Governor Hyacinth Alia to the House wherein he submitted the financial reports of the Local Government Councils as forwarded to his office by the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen.
In its resolution, the House presided over by the Speaker adopted the recommendations of the adhoc committee and ordered the immediate suspension of the Chairmen and the Legislative Houses.
According to the Speaker, the suspension became necessary in order to pave the way for the smooth and detailed investigation into the income and expenditures of the Councils by the House.
The House equally resolved to extend the investigation to cover the whole tenure of the Local Government Councils, saying “the three months report into the finances of the Councils has revealed infringements on the Financial Memorandum of Local Government and other extant laws governing the Management of funds at the third tier of government.”
The sacked Council Chairmen were elected in May 2022 during the Samuel Ortom led administration on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.