Benue Assembly suspends all LG chairmen for financial misappropriation

Benue House of Assembly has approved the suspension of all 23 local government (LG) chairmen in the state for financial misappropriation.
The decision to suspend the LG chairmen was taken on Wednesday during the plenary, following a letter from Governor Hyacinth Alia. The letter, dated June 14, 2023, requested the house to investigate the incomes and expenditures of all the chairmen.
In the letter, Mr Alia informed the house that he had received a report on the incomes and expenditures of the chairmen from February to April 2023, as submitted by themselves, and wished the house to investigate it for necessary recommendations.
The speaker of the house, Hyacinth Dajoh, therefore, set up an ad hoc committee on June 20, 2023, 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, directed to investigate and report back to the house within the shortest possible time, expressed worries over the outright disregard of procedure and the chairmen’s crass mismanagement of local government funds 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 to cover from June 2015 to May 2023.
The committee recommended the immediate suspension of the chairmen and the legislative councils for conniving with the executive councils to mismanage public funds in their trust.
After contributions from members in favour of the report, the house unanimously agreed that the chairmen be suspended to enable it to do the investigation without interference.
Ruling, the speaker directed the chairmen to hand over the affairs of their local government councils and all government properties in their possession, including official vehicles, to the Directors-General, Services, and Administration (DGSAs) with immediate effect and proceed on suspension, pending the completion of the investigation into their account books and other related matters.
The speaker further directed that the governor proceed and 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.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Lagos
Lagos assembly passes 2026 appropriation amendment bill
The passage followed consideration of a letter from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu seeking the assembly’s approval to reorder priorities under the 2026 budget.

States
Insecurity: Army to deploy additional troops to Plateau
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, says the Nigerian Army will deploy additional troops to reinforce security operations in Plateau.

NationWide
NAF receives five new helicopters to boost operations
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF director of public relations and information, said seven more are expected before the end of 2026.

States
Oyo govt targets unregistered hospitality businesses to boost tax revenue, security
The Oyo State government says it has renewed its drive to bring all hospitality businesses into the tax system.

Education
CAPPA urges end to persecution of UI student activists over fee hike protest
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) urged the University of Ibadan management to stop persecuting student activists.

World
Trump slams Supreme Court justices for rejecting restrictions on mail-in voting
The court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to stay the implementation of a universal injunction against new mail-in ballot rules from the U.S. Postal Service.





