MAKURDI – A bill to establish Benue honours, recognition, and awards passes second reading during a plenary on Friday in Makurdi.
The House Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri (APC/Kwande West), said that the proposed law was aimed at recognising outstanding contributions to the state’s development.
Dugeri described the bill as a landmark initiative designed to promote excellence, patriotism, and selfless service across the state.
He noted that despite Benue’s reputation as the “Food Basket of the Nation”, it currently lacked a structured legal framework to recognise individuals who had made significant impacts in various sectors.
According to him, the proposed legislation sought to establish the Benue honours system, which would introduce a hierarchy of awards reflecting different levels of service.
He explained that the bill also empowered the governor to confer honours through a formal warrant, while ensuring merit-based recognition through clearly defined eligibility criteria.
“A society that does not honour its heroes will soon run out of them,” Dugeri said.
He emphasised the need to incentivise positive contributions among citizens and cited examples of potential awardees, including innovative farmers, long-serving teachers, and dedicated security personnel whose efforts deserve formal recognition.
The majority leader further highlighted the broader significance of the bill, noting that beyond medals and certificates, it aimed to strengthen identity, inspire younger generations, and promote unity by recognising citizens across all ethnic and political divides.
Seconding the motion, the Minority Leader, Mr Isaac Ochekliye (PDP/Ohimini), expressed support for the bill, while Mr Samuel Agada (APC/Ogbadibo) added that its passage would ensure that individuals who achieved great feats were duly acknowledged.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Alfred Emberga put the question to lawmakers, who unanimously supported the second reading.
Emberga subsequently directed the Clerk of the House, Dr Bem Mela, to read the bill for the second time.
He also said that following the reading, the bill was referred to the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative scrutiny.
He said that the committee was expected to review the proposal and report back to the house ahead of its third reading. (NAN)
