Benue Assembly adopt 187-day sitting schedule for new session

The Benue State House of Assembly has adopted the amended Calendar of Business for the Third Legislative Session (2025–2026) of the 10th Assembly.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aondoaver Berger Alfred Emberga.

Presenting the motion, the Majority Leader, Hon. Pharm. Sir Thomas Dugeri, explained that Section 104 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires the House to sit for a minimum of 181 days in a legislative year. He added that Section 101 empowers the Assembly to regulate its own procedures, including the timing of sittings and recess.

The amended calendar sets out a total of 187 sitting days spread across three sessions, beginning with the first sitting from July 8 to October 8, 2025, followed by the second sitting from October 28, 2025, to February 9, 2026, and the third sitting from March 3 to May 18, 2026, each separated by short recess periods.

The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Abu Umoru, who commended the amendment, saying it would enable the House to function more effectively and efficiently.

During the same plenary, the Assembly received the report of the House Standing Committee on Higher Education on a petition regarding encroachment on the land of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu by Mission House International.

It also received a report from the Committee on Food Security and Nutrition on its oversight visit to the Department of Livestock Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Makurdi.

Both reports were laid before the House by the Majority Leader and were subsequently referred to the Committees on Education and Agriculture for further legislative action.

In another development, the House considered a motion sponsored by Hon. Onah Blessed Emmanuel of Oju I State Constituency calling for the recognition and reward of academic excellence.

Following deliberations, the Assembly resolved to recommend that the Benue State Examinations Board, in collaboration with WAEC, NECO and tertiary institutions across the state, publish the names of best graduating students each academic year for official recognition and awards.

Also at the plenary, a Bill seeking to provide for the creation and adoption of a Benue State Symbol and Anthem scaled second reading.

The bill, which aims to establish a unique identity and sense of pride for the people of the state, was read for the second time by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Bem Melody.