CABINET OFFICE FROWNS AT THE UNPROVOKED ATTACK AGAINST THE SSG BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER OF THE BENUE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
It has become pressingly pertinent to shade light and put issues in proper perspective on the embarrassing public assault on the person and Office of the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Prof. Joseph Alakali by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Paul Biam and the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh.
The scene was in the full glare of the public and many visitors at the office for the day may have left with one misinformation or the other.
The entire staff of the Cabinet Office were on Monday taken aback about the attitude of the top Government functionaries at the office during official hours.
It is important to clarify here that on the 13th Nov. 2023, at the Conference Hall of the Cabinet Office, a meeting held between Benue State Governments and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
On the part of Government, the meeting had the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Prof. Joseph Alakali, the Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor, Hon. Paul Biam, the Majority leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Tiseer Saater, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Union Matters, Hon. Iyoo Igbondo, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Commercial Transportation and Monitoring, Hon. Suleiman Elaigwu in attendance.
On the side of the Union, the meeting had the Ag Director Transport, NURTW National Secretariat, Engr. Msugh Orkor and the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Union in Benue, Mue Ter Gbemacha, Zaki Ijir Tarzoho and the State Chairman NURTW in Benue Cmrd Jerome Ukor.
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The meeting came out with following resolutions;
That in line with Article 16 of the Union’s Constitution which stipulates that State Congresses be conducted within 2 months after the National Delegates Conference, the NURTW in Benue led by Comr. Jerome Ukor should maintain status quo since the last National Delegate Conference was held on the 25th Oct, 23.
3. That the NURTW in Benue should conduct it’s activities in line with the Constitution guiding it’s operations.
4. That all interested parties willing to participate in the next leadership selection process of the Union should follow the laid down procedure.
5. The meeting also agreed that the NURTW under Jerome Ukor is without any faction.
6. All security agencies were by this resolutions informed to take note and cooperate with the Union leadership and ensure that they carry out their activities peacefully.
However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Union Matters, Hon. Iyoo Igbondo the following day brought another faction who wanted audience with the SSG.
The SSG in his usual nature of granting access, gave them audience and conveyed to them Government decision on the matter. This was to promote peace and engender fair hearing on issues.
Surprisingly, the SSG had barely entered his office from the meeting when the Chief of Staff and the Speaker bounced into the office. While the speaker hauled unpleasant and disrespectful words at the SSG, the Chief of Staff, Mr Paul Biam almost physically engaged the Special Adviser on Labour and Union Matters, Hon. Iyoo Igbondo.
The Cabinet Office view this behavior as unbecoming of leaders and a disrespect on the office and all it is made of and strongly take exceptions.
The SSG, Prof. Alakali is a respected Professor whose action on issues are never guided by personal gains.
May it also be known that the SSG has the right in his office to grant audience to whoever he so wish without recourse to neither the Chief of Staff nor the Speaker.
It is the believe of the SSG that cooperation and respect for one another among top Government functionaries is important for the realization of the new dream for Benue under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia PhD.
Philip Salemkaan
Aide to the Secretary to the Benue State Government
