The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim to appear before it to explain what happens to bills passed by the House and transmitted to the Executive Arm.
The House took the decision during plenary on Monday, presided by the speaker, Hon. Hyacinth Dajoh after the member representing, Makurdi South State Constituency, Hon. Douglas Akya moved a motion calling on the House to summon the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr Fedelis Mnyim to explain what happens to the bills passed by the House and transmitted to the Executive Arm of Government.
Hon. Akya, stated that, the Tenth Benue State House of Assembly, has within a year and half passed very important bills into law which is unprecedented in the history of the Assembly and expressed worries on why there has been no communication from the executive on whether the bills are assented to, withheld or rejected.
“The constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria required that, the State Governor should assent to bills passed and transmitted to the Executive by the House of Assembly within thirty days or communicate back to the Speaker informing him the reason for not assenting to”
Seconding the motion, member representing Mata State Constituency, Hon. Simon Gabo called on the Executive Arm to always complement the efforts of the Tenth Assembly by speedily assenting to the important bills passed by the House for the progress and development of the State.
In their separate contribution to the motion, members representing Kwande West and Adoka/Ugboju State Constituencies, Hon. Thomas Dugeri and Hon. Michael Audu questioned the delay in assenting to bills passed by the House, saying it is capable of retarding the development of the State
They urged the House to summon the Attorney General to appear on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 by 10 AM in order to give more insights and facts on the reason or reasons why the executive has failed to communicate to the Speaker of the House on the matter.
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s Plenary, a Bill for a Law to Amend the College of Education Katsina- Ala Law, 2022 and for Purposes Connected Therewith 2024 and A Bill for a Law to Amend the College of Education, Oju law, 2021, and for Purposes Connected Therewith, 2024 enjoyed First Reading
The Two Bills were presented to the House by the Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Peter Ipusu. After considering the merit of the bills, the Acting Clerk, Mr. Hwande read them and they were referred by the Speaker, Hon. Hyancith Dajoh to the House Committee on Rules and Business to be slated for second reading on a later date.
