Benue assembly passes 5 amended laws on tertiary institutions

By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

Benue House of Assembly on Thursday passed five laws on tertiary institutions after  undergoing amendment on the floor of the house.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they are  Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev Law, 2020, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi Law, 2020 and College of Education, Katsina-Ala Law, 2021.

Others are College of Education, Oju Law, 2021 and Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo Law, 2021.

Leading the debate, Chairman, House Standing Committee on Education, Mr Terkaa Ucha said the sought to allow the visitors to the institutions to appoint rectors and provosts in the absence of a duly constituted governing council

He was represented by Mr Anthony Agom (Okpokwu-PDP), said the law sought to allow the visitors of these institutions to appoint rectors for the Polytechnic and provosts for the institution in absence of a duly constituted council.

Ucha said that the appointment would follow after the nomination of three qualified persons by the Commissioner for Education.

In a unanimous resolution, the house agreed that the bills be amended.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Christopher Adaji who presided over the plenary, invited the clerk of the house, Mr Bernard Nule to read the bills for the third time and they were accordingly passed.

In a related development, the house also read the bill for a law to establish widows’ commission in Benue.

Leading debate, Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Godwin Edor said the bill when passed would prohibit harmful cultural practices against widows.

Edor said the bill when passed would also protect widows from exploitative acts and punish offenders.

He, therefore, appealed to members to support the bill so that the rights of widows could be protected in the state.

Seconding the motion, the minority leader, Mr Bem Mngutyo said the bill was apt as it aimed at protecting the rights of widows in line with biblical injunction.

The house  agreed and the bill was read for the second time and  referred  to the House Standing Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to be slated for debate on a later date.

(NAN)