Benue State House of Assembly has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to suspend chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Grace Adagba,, for six months.
The House also directed the special adviser on the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Denen Aondoakaa, to stop releasing funds to the board.
The call for Adagba’s suspension followed a motion moved by the chif whip, Hon.Bemdoo Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West), during plenary session in Makurdi, ysterday
Ipusu informed the House that the chairman refused to honour the invitation of the ad-hoc committee constituted by the Assembly to investigate her activities at the board.
Ipusu said, “The SUBEB chairman has written to the House, claiming it has no right to investigate contracts from the board, and accused the chairman of deliberately obstructing the House from exercising its constitutional oversight mandate.
During the plenary on July 21, 2025, Ipusu deliberated on a motion titled “Motion for the House to Embark on a State-wide verification of contracts.”
“After a robust debate, the house resolved to constitute a seven-man ad-hoc committee to ascertain the true status of completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by Alia’s government from inception to date and report back to the house within four weeks.
“The ad hoc committee has extended several invitations to the executive chairman of SUBEB; however, she declined to appear before the committee without any satisfactory explanation.
“In one of her letters, she had clearly stated that the House has no right to investigate contracts.
From the board.
“It has, therefore, become very clear that she is deliberately hindering the house from carrying out its constitutional mandate of oversight,” Ipusu said.
He said that allowing the chairman to remain actively involved while the committee carried out its assignment may create a conflict of interest, undermine public confidence, or jeopardise the integrity of the House investigation.
The motion was seconded by Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), decrying that the board was not ready to cooperate with the house under the chairmanship of her current chairman.
In his contribution, Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), said that SUBEB was established by law; therefore, it cannot act as an independent entity that cannot be overruled by the house.
Pharm. Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West) said that the chairman had always displayed rascality whenever the house called upon her.
Dugeri encouraged the house to stick to its decision to suspend the chairman, reiterating that they should take the decision and stand by it.
In his ruling, Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh said that the house was committed to upholding the principle of accountability and good governance in all matters of public interest.
