The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benue Assembly

  • Benue Assembly outlaws same-sex marriage

    The Benue State House of Assembly has passed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Law 2018, to prohibit same-sex marriage.

    According to the law, a marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same-sex shall not be solemnised in a Church, Mosque or any other place of worship in Benue State.

    The law also prohibits the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, their sustenance, procession and meeting, as well as public show of amorous relationship, directly or indirectly.

    It stipulates that any person who enters into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to 14 years’ imprisonment

    The Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, after the third reading of the bill, noted that same-sex union is alien to the culture and tradition of the state, and so should be prohibited.

  • Benue Assembly bans use of tyres in roasting meat

    The Benue State House of Assembly yesterday banned the use of tyres and other leather-related materials in roasting meat across the state in view of their health hazards to meat consumers.

    “The assembly has directed that henceforth butchers and slaughterers should use fire wood instead of tyres and synthetic materials in roasting meat.”

    Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, announced the resolutions of the house after a debate on a substantive motion moved by the member representing Katsina Ala East, Mr. Ianna Jato.

    The house also directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services and that of Agriculture and Natural Resources to effectively regulate the activities of butchers and abattoirs in Makurdi and other parts of the state to forestall health and environmental hazards.

    Earlier, Jato informed the house that the use of tyres in processing meat by butchers is a source of concern, adding that tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric, wire, carbon black and other chemical components which are unhealthy for human consumption.

    According to him, the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry reveals that tyres contain several heavy metals such as zinc, lead and copper that can be carcinogenic when exposed to consumers over a period of time.

    All those who contributed to the debate expressed concern over the use of tyres to process meat and stressed the need to halt the trend.

  • Benue Assembly bans used of tyres in roasting meat

    Benue Assembly bans used of tyres in roasting meat

    Benue State House of Assembly Friday banned the use of tyres and other leather related materials used in roasting meat across the State in view of the health hazards to meat consumers.

    The Assembly directed that henceforth butchers and slaughterers should use fire wood instead of tyres and synthetic materials in roasting meat.

    Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange announced resolutions of The House after a debate on a substantive motion moved by the member representing Katsina Ala East, Mr. Ianna Jato.

    The House also directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services and that of Agriculture and Natural Resources to effectively regulate the activities of butchers and abattoirs in Makurdi and other parts of the State to forestall health and environmental hazards.

    Earlier, Mr. Jato informed the House that the use of tyres in processing meat by Butchers is a source of concern adding that tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric, wire, carbon black and other chemical components which are unhealthy for human consumption.

    According to him, the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry reveals that tyres contain several heavy metals such as Zinc, Lead and Copper that can be Carcinogenic when exposed to consumers over a period of time.

    All those who contributed to the debate expressed concerned over the use of tyres to process meat and stressed the need to halt the trend.

    Benue State House of Assembly Friday banned the use of tyres and other leather related materials used in roasting meat across the State in view of their health hazards to meat consumers.

    The Assembly has directed that henceforth butchers and slaughterers should use fire wood instead of tyres and synthetic materials in roasting meat.

    Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange announced resolutions of The House after a debate on a substantive motion moved by the member representing Katsina Ala East, Mr. Ianna Jato.

    The House also directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services and that of Agriculture and Natural Resources to effectively regulate the activities of butchers and abattoirs in Makurdi and other parts of the State to forestall health and environmental hazards.

    Earlier, Mr. Jato informed the House that the use of tyres in processing meat by Butchers is a source of concern adding that tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric, wire, carbon black and other chemical components which are unhealthy for human consumption.

    According to him, the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry reveals that Tyres contain several heavy metals such as Zinc, Lead and Copper that can be Carcinogenic when exposed to consumers over a period of time.

    All those who contributed to the debate expressed concerned over the use of tyres to process meat and stressed the need to halt the trend.

  • Benue Assembly okays N176.6b for 2017

    Benue Assembly okays N176.6b for 2017

    The Benue State House of Assembly has passed the N176.6b budget for the 2017 fiscal year.

    Christened “Budget of Rural Transformation”, the budget passed represents an increment of N12.7 billion as agaisnt the N163.9 billion presented by Governor Samuel Ortom.

    Chairman of the Appropriation Committee Adam Okloho said the increase followed the non-inclusion of some ongoing projects by the Ministry of Finance, and requests by MDAs for inclusion of some projects which were omitted in the proposed estimates.

    Highlight of the budget shows that N66.7 billion is for recurrent expenditure, N109.9 billion is for capital expenditure, while deficit financing stands at N36.1 billion.

    The House also directed the finance ministry to make releases to MDAs to enable them carry out the implementation of their capital expenditure votes.

     

  • Benue Assembly passes 2016 supplementary budget

    Benue State House of Assembly yesterday passed 2016 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N3.8 billion submitted to it by Governor Samuel Ortom in December.

    It comprises N1.8billion as Supplementary Recurrent Expenditure, while the Supplementary Capital Expenditure is N2billion.

    With the passage, the revised Supplementary Expenditure for 2016 budget stands at N68.4billion and N86.1billion as the revised Capital Expenditure, bringing the revised total budget to N145.5billion.

    Speaker House of Assembly Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange announced the passage after a clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the House Standing Committee of Appropriation on 2016 Supplementary Budget in the Committee of Supply.

  • Security men take over Benue Assembly

    Security men take over Benue Assembly

    Gun-wielding security operatives, about 30, yesterday stormed the Benue State House of Assembly following rumours of a possible invasion of the Assembly complex.

    House Committee Chairman on Information, Ben Ngutyo, explained that the security measure is to forestall any criminal act, especially in the face of insecurity in the state.

    The security men, including men of the Department of State Services (DSS), carried out a thorough search of persons and vehicles going into the Assembly complex.

    Policemen, acting on the instruction of the Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange, went round offices chasing out whoever had no business in the complex.

    While this was on, the lawmakers were in an executive session for over three hours, with the suspended Kester Kyenge in attendance.

    Ngutyo said they officially communicated the suspension to Kester, maintaining that their action would serve as a deterrent to other members.

    He accused Kester of acting a script, adding that “we have to tame him and prove that we are in-charge of the house”.

  • Benue Assembly approves Ortom’s request for N2b farming loan

    Benue Assembly approves Ortom’s request for N2b farming loan

    The Benue State House of Assembly has approved the request of Governor Samuel Ortom to borrow N2 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for dry season farming.

    The Assembly approved the loan yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, during plenary.

    The lawmakers acknowledged receipt of a request letter, titled: Request to Obtain a Loan for Financing of Agriculture Value Chain, Including Dry Season Farming Under CBN Special Intervention Fund, from the governor.

    Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange, who read the letter, noted that agricultural activities needed to be stepped up to boost the state’s revenue profile.

    Ikyange stressed the need for the state to return to agriculture, especially against the backdrop of dwindling revenue from oil, which was threatening the national economy.

    The Speaker said something urgent needed to be done to arrest the situation.

    He added that the loan would be repaid in 20 years at nine per cent interest rate.

    Ikyange said agriculture, which was the mainstay and identity of the Benue people, needed to be supported vigorously so that the state could remain the “Food Basket of the Nation”.

    Majority Leader Benjamin Adanyi said there was need to diversify the state’s economy.

    He said the Agricultural sector was capable of assisting the state to improve its revenue generation.

    Mr Richard Ujege (APC-Konshisha) said agricultural produce were usually expensive during dry season, adding that the state could benefit from dry season farming.

    When the Speaker put the matter to vote, the lawmakers unanimously voted in its favour.