Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has suspended all 23 local government chairmen and their councillors in the state.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in an official statement dated June 23, 2023, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ode Ochelle, issued a letter to each of the 23 local government chairmen and the leaders of their respective houses, conveying the governor’s decision.
This development comes in the wake of a recommendation made by the State House of Assembly on Wednesday, which called for the suspension of both the chairmen and legislative arms of the 23 local governments in Benue State.
During the session, the house unanimously passed a resolution urging the governor to take swift action by suspending the executive and legislative branches of the third tier of government in the state.
“In order to conduct the review without any interference, the committee recommends the immediate suspension of Executive Council Chairmen in all the 23 local government councils and also the legislative councils for conniving with the Executive Councils to mismanage public funds put in their trust,” the House said.
The letter read in parts, “Sequel to the approval of the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, on the resolution of the Benue House of Assembly suspending you and all council members from office as contained in a letter from the office to the Secretary to the State Government, ref no CAB/BS/SSG/ADM/35/T/XX dated 23, June 2023.
“You are hereby directed to proceed on an indefinite suspension with immediate effect.”
