The Benue State House of Assembly has established a seven-member ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive verification of all state contracts.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu, was constituted during plenary under the leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
The House resolution directed the Commissioner for Finance, Michael Ogleba, to immediately halt all payments to contractors until the verification exercise is completed.
The committee’s mandate includes examining whether due process was followed in contract awards, verifying if contracts were publicly advertised, assessing contractors’ capacity, reviewing design analyses, and evaluating contract sums.
The decision followed a motion by Hon. Alfred Emberga Berger of Makurdi North constituency, who raised concerns about irregularities and delays in ongoing projects. Berger warned that legislative inaction could damage public perception of the administration. The committee has one month to submit its findings.
In related developments, the Assembly summoned the Finance Commissioner and Head of Service, Agbogbo Ode, to appear on July 29, 2025.
The commissioner is expected to present the state’s complete wage bill, while the Head of Service must provide a detailed staff breakdown across ministries and agencies.
The House also suspended Michael Uper, Executive Secretary of the State Sports Lottery and Marketing Board, for six months over alleged revenue diversion. An investigation will determine if he should refund misappropriated funds and face removal.
Additionally, lawmakers condemned recent killings in the Mbaduku-Obudu conflict and urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to collaborate with Cross River State to resolve the crisis. The Local Government Civil Service Commission Chairman was also summoned to address promotion irregularities during the July 29 hearing.
These measures reflect the Assembly’s efforts to enhance transparency in governance and address critical state issues.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
