MAKURDI: The Chairman of the Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Mr. Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North), has dismissed reports that lawmakers passed a bill banning love and romance in the state.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi, Berger described the trending story as fake news, saying no such bill had ever been contemplated by the assembly.
“The manner in which the originator of the fake news wrote the purported bill was far different from how the assembly couches its bills. It is a fabrication and the imagination of the author,” he said.
He urged the public to disregard the claim, stressing that the assembly was focused on legislative issues that directly affect governance and development.
Berger, however, disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia had acted on resolutions of the House recommending the suspension of three appointees: the Chairperson of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba; Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Mr. Maxwell Ogiri; and the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Lottery Commission, Mr. Michael Uper.
He said the House recommended six months suspension each, but the governor, in his wisdom, reduced it to one month.
“What matters is that the affected officials vacated the office while investigations are ongoing,” Berger added.
