The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a motion urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to unfreeze the state’s bank accounts.
Recall that the Governor embargoed the state’s accounts during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023 to allow for proper transition.
The House Thursday at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Hyacinth Dajoh called on the Governor to lift the embargo to allow for the smooth running of government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Raphael Akume, in a statement said the motion for the lifting of the embargo was moved by the member representing Kwande West State Constituency, Thomas Dugeri, and seconded by the lawmaker representing Konshisha State Constituency, Cephas Dyako.
But in his reaction to the motion, the member representing Kyan constituency, Emmanuel Shimawua moved a counter motion which was seconded by Mr. Alfred Emberga.
The lawmaker urged the House to desist from arriving at a hasty conclusion on why the Governor had allowed the accounts to remain frozen. The counter motion, however, failed after it was put to voice vote.
Mr. Akume noted that during debate on the motion, the House frowned at the continuous freezing of the accounts which has left MDAs, paralyzed, and unable to render effective services to the people of the state.
The House was particularly worried that it is over nine months into the life of the administration, and why is it taking so long for the Governor to initiate the process to render whatever transactions that were hanging on the government accounts ineffective adding that all cheque’s life span is six months.
The House resolved that the Governor should in the interest of the state, unfreeze the state accounts for the smooth running of the MDAs.
