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From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Benue State House of Assembly has repealed outrightly the bill for a law to make for the maintenance of former Governors and their deputies.
Recall that before leaving office in May 2023, former Governor Samuel Ortom initiated a bill to provide for life pension for all former governors and their deputies.
The bill which was passed by the ninth assembly on the 25th May, 2023, provided for the payment of stipend of 40 million in four months in addition to provision of two Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs) as well as six stewards to a former Governor while the former deputy governor is entitled to 25 million as stipend in 4 months, 1 SUV and three stewards.
Leading debate on the bill during the plenary on Monday, the House committee chairman on Appointments, Public Service and Pension, Hon.Douglas Akya representing Makurdi South Constituency described the bill as exorbitant saying the state cannot fund it from its lean resources.
He also said that the bill was not made in the best interest of the State, particularly at a time when workers were owed several months of salaries, while pension and gratuity of retired workers are not paid.
The House, during the plenary, stood down the bill to provide for the establishment of State Civil Protection Guards and other purposes connected therewith as a result of some ambiguities.
The Majority Leader Hon. Saater Tiseer who doubles as Chairman, House committee on Rules and Business said they carried public hearings of the bill in the three Senatorial zones of the State.
He said the Benue people had outrightly rejected section 12 that sought to repeal the anti-open grazing law.
The Minority Leader Hon. Michael Audu corroborated his colleague, stressing that the people had cautioned them not to attempt to repeal the anti-open grazing law.
