By Jerry Iorngaem
Inline with his parliamentary responsibility that speaks to the yearnings and aspirations of his people Sen Udende never shied away from raising and drawing attention to the plight of Benue North East senatorial district when and where necessary .
He has become a familiar voice on the floor of the 10th Senate , standing before his 108 colleagues and behind the scene lobbying for the betterment of his people has become his official trade mark.
Two years after, it is important to note that the lawmaker has established a mark on the sans of time expanding across the length and breath of Nigeria but not limited to his immediate senatorial zone .
BILLS AND MOTIONS:
To his credit; he has sponsored motions and led debates on critical matters including the following :
1.Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2018 (amendment Bill), which is set to bring the subsisting Act in conformity and ensure Nigeria’s compliance with current Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendation on the fight against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
2.A bill for the establishment of the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Adikpo in Kwande, has been passed into Law by Nigerian Senate courtesy of Senator Udende.
3.Led the debate on National Social Investment Programme Agency (establishment) Act 2023 (amendment) Bill, 2023 (163) sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate leader)
4.Motion for Investigation into the Suspicious Circumstances Surrounding the Nigeria Air Project.
5. Motion on Urgent Need to Construct a Cross Border Road Linking Jato-Aka in kwande LGA of Benue State to “Join Water” (Federal Republic of Cameroon Republic)
6.Motion on the continued killings by suspected terrorists parading as herdsmen leading to increased insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue North East Senatorial District of Benue State.
It is important to emphasize that this motion led to consolidation of all related motions moved previously on the same subject matter within the life of the 10th Senate, causing the entire National Assembly to meet the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intimate him of the magnitude of the situation in Benue State in particular and Nigeria in general and for the President’s action.
7.Motion on the Need for the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to adhere to the federal character principle in the recruitment of constables into the Nigeria Police.
8. A motion on the killings of innocent Farners in Anyiin, Ayilamo and other communities and urgent need to complete the Mobile Police Barracks at Ayilamo in Logo LGA.
9.Motion on the demise of Distinguished Senator Joseph Akaagerger who lived between 1956 and 2025.
EMPOWERMENT
10.To enable him carry out the work he was sworn to do, Senator Udende appointed no fewer than 70 Legislative Aides majority of which received monthly Salary of 100 000 each.
11.He has influenced Pensionable employment for over 30 indigenes of Benue North-East in federal agencies including but not limited to EFCC, NSCDC, UBEC, NPF, Nigerian Army, National Assembly Service Commission, FAAN, among others.
12.provost of one hundred thousand Naira (100,000,00) scholarship each to 51 Student’s of Zone A undergoing law studies in the seven campuses of the Nigerian Law School.
13.Sen Udende facilitated a digital marketing skills Training providing 40 smart computers and cash as startups kits for Benue North-East youth.
EDUCATION
14.Provision of ICT centre equipped with 40 computers at Community Secondary School Agen, Shangev-Tiev in Konshisha Local Government
15.Construction of one unit of three classrooms block at LGEA Sati Agirigi in Katsina-Ala LGA.
16.Construction of another one unit of three classrooms block at Labe, Mbavuur Community in Logo LGA.
INFRASTRUCTURE
17.Construction and Furnishing of Traditional Council Hall at Adikpo for Kwande Traditional rulers with a 200 capacity Conference Hall, 3 offices, Convenience rooms and a motorized borehole.
18.Construction and Furnishing of Traditional Council Hall at Sankera for Ukum Traditional rulers with a 200 capacity Conference Hall, 3 offices, Convenience rooms and a motorized borehole.
19.Acquisition / Installation of a 500kva Transformer and donated to Jato Aka town in Kwande LGA.
20.Acquisition of prepared Metres set for distribution at Moon Kwav Community in Kwande to enable them access electricity.
21.Provision of solar streetlight in Katsina-Ala Township, Joo Mbatyough in Ikyurav Tiev all in Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs.
22.Provision of Solar streetlight in Zaki-Biam town, Vaase, Igbongom, Gyenku, Akaanya Village and other communities in Ukum LGA.
23.Provision of solar streetlight to Jato Aka, Ichor, and other communities in Kwande LGA
24.Provision of solar streetlight to selected communities in Konshisha LGA.
25.Extension of electricity from Zaki-Biam to Gbagir, Afia and Gbeji Market in Ukum LGA.
26.Extension of electricity from Vandeikya to Tyemongo and other communities in Vandikaya LGA
27.The ongoing Construnction of a bridge over River Afia in Ukum Local Government Area.
AGRICULTURE
28.In his Agriculture support programme, He has donated Sveral trucks of NPK 15~15~15 and UREA fertilizers to the 7 Local governments that made up Benue North-East Senatorial District at every cropping season.
WATER
29.Provision of motorized boreholes at SADO Development Association, headquarters Kwaghbula, Atikyese, in Mbagwa, Ushongo LGA.
30.Provision of a Motorized borehole at NKST Nyior in Mbaivende in Ushongo LGA.
31.Provision of a motorized borehole at NKST Church Kyado Ukum LGA
32.Provision of a motorized borehole at Tinenune in Mbatian, Ukum Local Govt Area.
33.Provision of Motorized borehole at Dauda Community, Mbayenge in Ukum LGA
34.Provision of Motorized borehole at Ayati Junction, opposite Ngenev Community Secondary School Sankera
35.Provision of Motorized borehole at Rcm Church Aborua, Mbayenge in Ukum LGA
36.Provision of Motorized borehole at NKST Church, Ihugh Town in Vandeikya LGA.
37.Provision of a Motorized borehole at LGEA Primary school Andyagh in Konshisha LGA
38.Provision of Motorized borehole at Tse~ Atagher in Vandeikya LGA
SECURITY
Apart from being very active on insecurity on the floor of the Senate with 3 motions ana 2 bills on insecurity. He has;
39.Provided a hilux van to the Nigerian Police force, Gbeji Divisional Headquarters, Ukum LGA
40.Distribution of relief materials to internal displaced persons of herdsmen attacks. This he has done thrice to Turan and Ikyurav Tiev at Jato -Aka in Kwande LGA.
41.Distribution of relief materials to Gbagir, Borikyo, Ugbaam, Azendeshi, Mbatyu, and Mbayenge communities in Ukum LGA.
42.Distribution of relief materials to Mbater, Yonov, and Mchia Communities in Logo LGAs that have come under severe attacks from gunmen that have displaced thousands of people in the affected LGAs.
43.Distribution of relief materials to Internal displaced persons of herdsmen attacks on Mbagena community in Kpav, Katsina-Ala LGA
HEALTH
44.Sponsored a comprehensive free Medical outreach to Constituents in Zaki-Biam where major and minor surgical operations took place and correctional lenses were issued for people with eye surgery.
All the above and more have been achieved within his first 2 year in office. Above all, he is always at home in Zone A, not in Makurdi, reasoning with the people on how best to serve them. This is the grassroots politician that he is: A politician, not far removed from the people whose mandate he holds.
It is hoped that by the time the procurement processes of the 2025 budget are made, more democratic dividends will get to constituents.
We remain grateful, to the people of Benue North East, whose mandate Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, holds. The focus remains to be the voice of the people of the district and to support them achieve what they cannot be able to do, individually.
~Jerry Iorngaem,
SA Media and Publicity
13th June, 2025
