The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, dissolved the ninth assembly on Friday following the dissolution order issued and read by the Clerk of the House, Bernard Nule.
Nule read the dissolution order of the House during the valedictory session held by its members.
The Clerk said that the dissolution was in accordance with the Benue State House of Assembly dissolution order, Section 105, sub-section 3, of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which confers powers on the governor to dissolve the assembly to pave way for a new leadership.
Former Speaker of the 9th Assembly, Titus Uba, thanked his colleagues and the Assembly and lauded the House’s performance with the processing of 60 bills, of which 54 passed into law for assent and six expired.
Uba explained that 53 motions were taken, out of which 121 resolutions were made to address issues of state and welfare of citizens, adding that 66 reports were received and debated exhaustively with resolutions taken from them.
Members took turns to offer eulogies for the Ninth Assembly, in which former majority leader Hon. Damian Cheme, extolled the legislative arm for being the most productive and peaceful across the country and appreciated members for the privilege to serve the House.
In his reaction, Minority Leader, Bem Mngutyo, called for financial autonomy of the legislative arm of government, which will provide independence for the arm to function properly without interference from the executive.
He commended the Speaker of the House for his display of uncommon leadership skills that united members and urged his colleagues to practise politics of love, unity and humility as they bow out of office.
