Former member of the House of Representatives in Benue, Hon. Goddy Ikerave, has advised members of the Benue State Assembly to work in unison for their benefit and that of their constituencies.
Ikerave, once chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State Council advised on Tuesday while reacting to the report of non-payment of N30million Constituency allowance and denial of members of Benue State Assembly of their official vehicles.
The former lawmaker who represented Gwer West/Gwer East federal constituency between 1999 & 2003 also stated that states assembly have power to summon their state governor if there is any grey areas that needs more clarification on any issue concerning their affairs.
There have been reports of the state governor, Hyacinth Alia denied some assembly members of their constitutional entitlements, such as non release of N30 million constituency allowance and official vehicles.
Though, spokesperson to the state governor, Solomon Iorpev and Majority leader of the State Assembly have said that the delay in procuring enough vehicles for all members and release of constituency allowance were caused by autonomy granted the house after 2024 budget was passed.
According to the governor’s media aide, Solomon Iorpev said that the governor had reached an agreement with the lawmakers.
He said, “If anything is happening, it’s for a reason and I am sure the lawmakers also understand, that is the reason none of them has raised any eyebrows.
Also, the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, Saater Tiseer said that the autonomy granted to the state assembly after the 2024 budget had been passed was responsible for the challenges and submitted that the 2025 budget had taken care of them.
The former lawmaker said that the state assembly can summon the state governor to explain why some lawmakers have been denied their constitutional entitlements.
He said, “I will lay the blame at the doorsteps of the leadership of the house, they should invite the Governor to state reasons why these members have been denied their constitutional entitlements”.
“The legislative arm is empowered constitutionally to invite the Chief Executive of the State from time to time to the Assembly on issues bordering on governance of the state for which he was elected.”
The former lawmaker expressed worries that some members of legislative arm would be denied of what is due to them and the leadership and other members of the house would keep mute over same .
Corroborating this, a former member of the State House of Assembly during the 4th and 5th Assembly who pleaded not to be mentioned blamed the leadership of the State House of Assembly for the anomalies.
He accused the assembly leadership of its nonchalant attitude to their colleagues and described it as lack of cohesion among members of the house.
The lawmaker submitted that during the 4th and 5th Assembly where he was a lawmaker, members spoke in unison on varying issues bothering their colleagues irrespective of their party affiliation and leaning.
He maintained that lawmakers during the 4th and 5th Assembly always stand together on issues affecting one another , adding that they looked at themselves beyond party lines and differences, saying , ‘when one is affected all members are affected and that gives room for robust and exhaustive deliberations on the floor of the house’.
