April 06, (THEWILL) – Benue State House of assembly has given approval for Benue state government to key into a proposal submitted by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), to enable the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning net up domestic debt liabilities of over $18.2 billion.
The House gave the approval during plenary following a correspondence from Governor Samuel Ortom to the effect and was read on the floor by the Deputy Speaker, Cristopher Adaji.
According to the correspondence, a financial firm have been appointed to provide consultancy services to Benue state government to review and reconcile the state’s domestic debts stock with the ministry and to be paid 5% consultancy fee at source.
The letter further stated that the debt liabilities to be net up covered the period of 2009 to 2015.
In a related development, a bill to extend service years for primary and secondary school teachers in the state enjoys second reading on the floor.
Majority leader of the House, Damian Cheme, leading the debate, said the bill seeks to take service years from the current 60 to 65 of age or from 35 to 40 years service and therefore, moved a motion for the bill to enjoy a second reading.
Seconding the motion, the minority leader, Bem Mngutyo, said the bill was apt and when pass into law, it will motivate teachers in primary and post primary Schools.
The Clerk of the House, Barr. Bernard Nule, accordingly read the bill for a second time.
The Deputy Speaker, Cristopher Adaji, who presided over the plenary referred the bill to the House standing committee on Education, Science and Technology for further scrutiny.
