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Benue Assembly summons finance commissioner over MDAs’ frozen accounts
The Benue State House of Assembly on Wednesday summoned the Commissioner for Finance over the frozen accounts of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The commissioner is to appear alongside the ministry’s permanent secretary on Tuesday to explain why the accounts are still frozen.
The lawmakers’ decision followed the motion of urgent public importance moved by the Deputy Minority Whip, Mr. Blessed Onah, at the plenary in Makurdi.
Onah told his colleagues that on March 21, the House unanimously passed four resolutions calling on Governor Hyacinth Alia to unfreeze all the frozen accounts to enable MDAs to function effectively.
READ ALSO: Benue Assembly summons local council chairmen, others over alleged exploitation
“Following the resolution, the governor on March 22, 2024, directed the commissioner and the ministry to initiate and complete the unfreezing of the accounts as quickly as possible,” he stated.
The deputy minority whip said the ministry must provide updates on the matter and others relating to fiscal responsibility, public procurement, and financial reporting to the public.
He expressed concern that from their last oversight visit, most of the MDAs were not functioning properly as their accounts remained frozen.
The lawmaker representing Makurdi North Constituency, Mr. Alfred Berger, seconded the motion, saying that it was apt and timely.
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