By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Benue State House of Assembly has demanded six months suspension of the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, following her alleged refusal to cooperate with a legislative probe into the board’s activities.
The Assembly, during plenary on Tuesday, passed a resolution calling for Dr. Adagba’s immediate suspension for six months, citing incompetence and obstruction of legislative oversight.
Lawmakers accused the SUBEB boss of snubbing invitations from an ad-hoc committee investigating alleged irregularities in contract awards by the board.
According to the Assembly, Adagba not only failed to appear but also questioned the constitutional powers of the legislature to conduct such investigations.
Leading the motion, a member, Bemdoo Ipusu, described the chairman’s posture as a direct affront to the authority of the House.
Other members echoed similar sentiments, calling her actions “disrespectful” and “deliberately obstructive.”
The House also directed the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Denen Aondoakaa, to withhold further disbursement of funds to SUBEB until the probe is concluded.
Speaker Aondona Dajoh, who presided over the session, announced unanimous support for the resolution, signaling a growing resolve within the legislature to assert its oversight role.
The fate of Dr. Adagba now rests with Governor Hyacinth Alia, who has been urged to act swiftly on the recommendation.
