Benue Security Trust Fund Bill Passes Second Reading

A bill seeking the establishment of the Benue State Security Trust Fund and for other matters connected therewith, 2026 has passed a second reading at the Benue State House of Assembly.

The bill was read for the second time during a plenary presided over by the Speaker Rt Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga.

Leading the debate for the second reading of the bill, Majority leader of the House, Thomas Dugeri, stated that the main aim of the bill was to create a pool of funds for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and such human and material resources shall be deemed necessary for the effective functioning of Federal, State, Local Government and other security agencies operating in the State.

He further stated that part of the fund shall be reserved for the training and retraining of security personnel to enable them to contend with the current security needs of the state.

Members who contributed said the bill could not have come at a better time than now, when Benue people were facing insecurity and existential threats from different angles.

They highlighted the need to invest reasonable resources in the security sector to be proactive and prepare for the rainy day, and unanimously approved the bill for a second reading.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aondoaver Alfred Emberga referred the bill to the House Standing Committees on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs for further legislative actions.