From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Benue State House of Assembly in Tuesday during plenary suspended its former majority leader Hon. Saater Tiseer, and former minority leader Rt. Hon. Michael Audu from legislative duties on allegation of gross misconduct capable of destroying the unity and integrity of the House.
Both suspended leaders were close allies of the ousted Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Michael Zape said the decision was announced by the Speaker Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, maintaining that the two (2) former principal officers of the House were accused of gross misconduct and misuse of their offices for personal gains contrary to the Standing Order of the House.
While moving the motion for their suspension, the new Majority Leader of the House Hon Thomas Dugeri informed the House that the behaviour of the former House Leaders while in office portrayed the House in bad light, averring that the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to investigate their activities indicted the duo of misusing their offices for personal gains which is incompatible with the oath of office and oath of membership of the House, which they swore to.
The House therefore, suspended Hon. Saater Tiseer for 6 months and Hon Michael Audu for 3 Months from legislative duties to serve as deterrent to others.
Also, during plenary the house ordered the sack of one Miss Dorcas Faeren Mbatiav as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission for gross misconduct and misuse of her office.
This followed a discovery that Miss Dorcas Faeren Mbatiav, has been leaking out official and confidential information of the commission which constitutes gross misconduct.
Moving the motion to that effect, member representing Kyan State Constituency Hon Shimawua Terna stated that Section 6(2) of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission (Establishment) Law, 2018, empowered the House to remove a member of the Commission for gross misconduct.
He further explained that Miss Dorcas Faeren Mbatiav was not even qualified for her current position as she has no public service background as required in Section 5 (2) (c) of the Benue State House of Assembly.
Members who contributed said her continued stay at the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission portends danger to the credibility of the Commission and will set a bad precedent for the future.
The House unanimously relieved her of the appointment to save the image of the commission.
