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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A former member of the House of Representative in Benue State, Hon. Goddy Ikerave, has said that the State’s Assembly have powers to summon the state Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia if they need explanations or clarification on any areas concerning their affairs.
Ikerave, who represented Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003 stated this while reacting to the report of non-payment of N30 million Constituency allowance and alleged denial of members of Benue State Assembly who are supporters of the SGF, Senator George Akume, of their official vehicles.
Recall that the Technical Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Media Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev and House Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer have explained 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.
Iorpev, who stated the Governor had reached an agreement with the lawmakers had also said, “If anything was happening, it’s for a reason and that the lawmakers also understand, being the reason none of them has raised any eyebrows.
On his part, the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, Saater Tiseer said the assembly got its autonomy after the 2024 budget had been passed and submitted that the 2025 budget would take care of all grey areas.
Tiseer however clarified that, “No member has received N30 million as consistency project, though, what each member received varies, some N15 million, some N10 million, we are engaging the governor to do all these things, the shortfall is as a result of autonomy that the house got after 2024 budget was passed.
“On vehicles, we are 32 members and the vehicles brought were not up to that, seven members are yet to get their official vehicles including the speaker.
Speaking on the power vested on lawmakers, Ikerave said the state assembly can summon the state Governor to explain why some lawmakers have been denied their constitutionally entitlements.
He blamed the leadership of the house for being inactive saying “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 and urged them to rise up to their responsibilities to state and to themselves.
Corroborating 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 the plight of 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.
He said, “The 4th and 5th Assembly always stood together on issues affecting one another. We looked at ourselves beyond party lines and differences. When one is affected all members are affected and that gave room for robust and exhaustive deliberations on the floor of the house.”
