Benue lawmakers summon commissioner over alleged snide remarks

IRKED by the recent media report credited to the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Conrad Wergba, for calling the state House of Assembly “an arm-twisting arm of the government”, the lawmakers have ordered the commissioner to appear before it to explain why he made such uncomplimentary remarks against them.

The House, at its sitting yesterday, frowned at Wergba’s comment, describing it as misguided and aimed at smearing its hard-earned image.

In a statement last week, Wergba, while reacting on issues bothering on the Assembly’s position on the finances of the state, criticised the legislators as arm-twisting the executive for their pecuniary motives.

Wergba’s comment was hinged on a resolution of urgent public interest raised by the House on the finances of the state, which resulted in non-payment of some civil servants, teachers and members of the Assembly for over three months.

Moving the motion condemning the commissioner at yesterday’s sitting, Dickson Sule Audu, representing Apa State  Constituency, stressed the pains the commissioner had inflicted on the legislative arm and why he should appear before the House to explain his utterances.

Supporting the motion, the House’s Majority Chief Whip, Christopher Afaor, whose salary was delayed on account that he did not present himself for biometric data analysis, which of course said he did, emphasised that he was only subjected to biometric data analysis for identity card and not for salary.

“For the commissioner to say that I did not present myself for screening is completely false. Even at the time he issued the statement, which was published in national dailies and aired on radio, my salary was yet to be paid. I have only received my June and July salaries but do not know what has happened to my May salary. His comments are really unfortunate and unbecoming of a learned man like him and image-maker of the state”, Afaor added.

He pointed out that the House over the period has passed bills and resolutions that were beneficial not only to the executive arm but also the Benue people.

He further stressed that Wergba’s comment had not only reduced the integrity of the House but also those of the lawmakers before their constituents.

The Majority Leader, Paul Biam, representing Ukum and Terhemba Chabo, representing Gboko-West constituencies, lambasted the commissioner as being ignorant of the constitution establishing the Assembly.

He noted that they owed it an obligation to inquire about the state of finance of Benue, which was not supposed to warrant any bashing from him.