By Amos Aar
BENUE State House of Assembly Tuesday approved the suspension of the Chairperson of Vandeikya Local Government Council of the state, Mrs Kukase Tyoer Garba, following a vote-of-no-confidence passed on her by the legislative council of the local government last week.
The notice of suspension of Mrs Garba was contained in a letter addressed to Governor Samuel Ortom on the 11th of March, 2021 which he forwarded to the State Assembly through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Tony Ijohor, for ratification.
Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba, read the correspondence during plenary, stating reasons for the suspension.
The correspondence reads: “Failure to inform the Legislative Council of the monthly income and expenditure of the Local Government in violation of section 48(b) and 87(3) of the Local Government Establishment Law, 2007 (as amended).
“Misappropriation of public funds.
“Failure to present Budgets to the Local Government Legislative Council.
“Abuse of Executive power as she runs the affairs of the Local Government as a Sole Administrator.”
The speaker further quoted the correspondence stating that “as you are aware, the allegations against the Executive Chairman are contrary to the Local Government Establishment Law, 2007 (as amended) and the matter was referred to the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice to proffer legal advice.
“The Executive Governor accordingly received inputs from Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice on the matter and in view of paragraphs 5 and 6, the attached letter from the Hon. Attorney-General directed that I request approval of the Benue State House of Assembly to suspend the Executive Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government Council, Hon. (Mrs) Kukase Tyoer Garba, for a period of three months in line with section 154 of the Benue State Establishment Law, 2007 (as amended).”
National Record however gathered from reliable sources in Vandeikya’s political circles that the suspension of Hon. Mrs Garba has more to do with emerging political differences within the local council than being alleged.
The source, who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimisation, confided in our correspondent in Makurdi that “the so-called suspension” was approved by only 9 members out of a total of 30 members the House.
“I can assure you that the suspension is fabricated by powerful forces in Vandeikya local government with strong links to Government House. Where in the state do we have a functional local government legislature to pass vote of no confidence on a local government chairman? Nowhere,” our source stated.
