10 months after, Benue Assembly asks Alia to unfreeze state accounts

The Benue State House of Assembly has asked Governor Hyacinth Alia, to unfreeze the state bank accounts, which he ordered to be frozen on his assumption of office in May, last year.

Our correspondent reports that Governor Alia on May 29, 2023 directed banks in the state to freeze all accounts during his inaugural speech in order to ensure the smooth running of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

But the assembly during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, however, passed a motion mandating the governor to vacate his order.

The member representing Kwande West State Constituency, Pharmacist Thomas Dugeri, had moved the motion, which was seconded by the member representing Konshisha State Constituency, Cephas Dyako.

• NIGERIA DAILY: How Kaduna State Government Failed To Reunite Kuriga Children With Parents
• Fresh hurdle for Nigerian pilgrims as NAHCON increases hajj fare by N1.9m

Earlier, the House while debating on the motion, frowned at the continuous freezing of the accounts, which it said had rendered MDAs hopeless, paralysed, and unable to render effective services to the people of the state.

But, the member representing the Kyan State Constituency, Shimawua Emmanuel, moved a counter motion, which was seconded by Berger Alfred Emberga, a member representing Makurdi North State Constituency as they urged the house not to be hasty in their conclusion on why the state governor allowed the accounts to be frozen.

The counter motion however, failed through voice votes as the House resolved that the governor should, in the interest of the state, unfreeze the state accounts for the smooth running of the MDAs.