Benue Assembly suspends 23 LG chairmen over alleged mismanagement of funds

The Benue House of Assembly has approved the suspension of all 23 local government chairmen in the state for financial misappropriation.

The decision to suspend the local government chairmen was taken on Wednesday during plenary following a letter from Gov Hyacinth Alia, dated June 14, 2023, requesting the house investigate the incomes and expenditures of the 23 LG chairmen of the state.

In the letter, Gov Alia informed the house that he had received a report on the incomes and expenditures of the LG chairmen from February to April 2023, as submitted by themselves, and wished the house to investigate it for necessary recommendations.

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The Speaker of the House, Hyacinth Dajoh, therefore, set up an Adhoc Committee comprising Peter Ipusu (Katsina-Ala West, APC) as the chairman, Manger Manger (Tarka, APC), and Cyril Ikong (Oju II, APC) as members, to investigate the matter.

The committee, which was directed to investigate and report back to the house within the shortest possible time, expressed worries over the outright disregard of procedure and the crass mismanagement of local government funds by the chairmen during the period under review.

The committee informed the House that there was a need for a more detailed investigation of the operations of the local government beyond the period under review and to cover June 2015 to May 2023.

The Assembly directed that the governor proceed to set up caretaker committees in line with the Benue Local Government Law.

He also requested the Commissioner of Police to ensure a seamless takeover at the various local government council headquarters without any friction.