The Benue State House of Assembly has repealed the law providing for the maintenance of former governors and their deputies.
On Douglas Akya, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Appointments, Public Service, and Pension Matters, who represents Makurdi South Constituency, presented the repeal bill on Monday.
Mr Akya argued that the law was not in the state’s best interest, as it has limited resources needed for other pressing obligations.
Other lawmakers, including Samuel Agada of Ogbadibo Constituency and Alfred Emberga of Makurdi North Constituency, also supported the repeal.
They noted that given the state’s scarce resources, spending heavily on former governors and their deputies was impractical in the face of significant infrastructure gaps and a substantial debt burden.
The bill had faced public outcry since its passage under the Ortom administration, particularly from the opposition party that later won the governorship election.
Many had urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to repeal the law upon taking office. However, it took the lawmakers a year to act on repealing the pension law.
Additionally, during the plenary session on Monday, the legislators passed a bill to prohibit the harassment and extortion of money from investors, developers, and businessmen, commonly known as ‘marching ground’ fees.
Elias Audu, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Lands, Survey, and Solid Minerals, who led the debate, stated that the new law would curb the activities of miscreants who extort land from developers and residents.
On Monday, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, signed an executive order banning open grazing, open defecation, urination, loitering, and driving against the normal flow of traffic, abandonment or parking of vehicles on traffic lanes or drive-ways, overspeeding and overloading of vehicles, and other offenses in the state.
Effective February 28, 2024, the executive order restricts late-night gatherings without prior authorisation, mandates the closure of businesses by midnight, and prohibits minors from engaging in errands or street vending during school hours or beyond 6:00 PM.
