Benue News today: Latest News from Benue today, July 29, 2023

1. The United Nations, UN, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mathias Shemale has expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Benue state saying it is worse than the situation in Bornu state.

Shemale made the observation when he led a delegation on a courtesy call on Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

2. Julie Obetta, the former chairman of Okpokwu LGA, Arc. Eric Adokwu, an ex-House of Assembly aspirant, and Simon Egahi have been included in the commissioner-nominees list submitted by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State. The list was presented to the state assembly on Thursday, but Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh opted not to unveil the names at that time.

While the official announcement is still pending, a purported list has been circulating on social media, indicating that four individuals from Benue South have made it to the list of commissioner-nominees. The public eagerly awaits the official confirmation and unveiling of the names by the state assembly.

3. The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has flagged off the official distribution of relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the state.

This is even as the Governor had visited the IDP camps in Makurdi, and Guma local government areas of the state, with the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, and his entourage, who were in the state for an official visit at the instance of the state government.

4. Berger Alfred Emberga, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, has shed light on why the commissioner-nominees list submitted by Governor Hyacinth Alia was not immediately revealed to the public.

According to Emberga, an emergency sitting was held earlier in the day where they received a letter from Governor Alia requesting the screening and confirmation of 14 commissioner nominees.

5. Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has approved the appointment of Dr. Maurice E. Tyokever, as Ag Provost, College of Education, Katsina-Ala.

In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Joseph Alakali conveying the appointment, Dr. Tyokever’s appointment, takes immediate effect.

6. Six distinguished members of the House of Representatives from Benue State have been appointed to chair and co-chair crucial committees, each tasked with specific duties to address vital national issues.

They include, Hon. Mrs. Regina Akume – Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC, Rt. Hon. Mrs. Blessing Onuh (Otukpo/Ohimini) – Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkighir – Chairman, House Committee on Constituency Outreach, Hon. Ojotu Ojema (Apa/Agatu_ – Chairman, House Committee on Inland Waterways and Hon. Agbese Philip (Enone)- V/Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity.

7. Prince Yemi Itodo, a former media aide to Governor Samuel Ortom, has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of Idoma people from the ministerial list submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

He believes that the Idoma community should apologize to former Senate President David Mark, suggesting that Mark had worked for their benefit.

8. A pressure and non-profit group, the Benue Advocate for Good Governance has called on the state governor to immediately intervene and stop the illegal tax collection by untrained persons in some parts of the state.

In an open letter to the state governor Hyacinth Alia, the group expressed dismay that touts are still collecting revenue on behalf of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) in connivance with some staff of the revenue agency.