MAKURDI- The Benue State House of Assembly wants strict compliance with the state’s Order of Precedence Law following concerns over repeated breaches of protocol by government officials during public functions.
A motion sponsored by Mr Simon Gabo (APC/Mata) to that effect was presented on Thursday during plenary in Makurdi.
Gbabo drew the attention of the house to the provisions of the Benue State Nigeria Law Gazette No. 11, Volume 14 of March 17, 2016, particularly Schedule Section 3(1) and 7(2), which clearly outlined the hierarchy of public office holders in the state.
He said that according to the law, the order of precedence began with the governor, followed by his deputy, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Chief Judge of the State/Customary Court of Appeal, the Deputy Speaker, Members of the State Assembly, Executive Council members, and the Secretary to the State Government.
Gabo noted that the state protocol officers either lack adequate knowledge of the law or deliberately disregard it by placing commissioners above elected members of the house during official events.
He expressed concern that some commissioners and members of the state executive council often display what he described as disrespect toward duly elected lawmakers at public functions.
The lawmaker further said that the persistent misinformation had emboldened commissioners to disregard members, despite the assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibilities over ministries and agencies.
Seconding the motion, Mr Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpa-Akpa) observed that most executive members fail to obey the law and called for the enforcement of punitive measures to ensure strict adherence to the established protocol.
In his contribution, Mr Michael Audu (APC/Adoko-Ugboju) criticised officials of the Government House Protocol Unit, alleging that they appeared not to understand their responsibilities.
He expressed worry that lawmakers were not allocated appropriate seats on many occasions and called for the protocol officials to be invited to explain why they chose to disobey the law.
Also speaking, the Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri, urged the Clerk of the House, Dr Bem Mela, to formally write to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Head of Service (HOS), ministries, departments and agencies, among others, notifying them of the assembly’s position.
Similarly, Mr Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West) recommended that the SSG should organise a seminar for government officials to properly acquaint them with the provisions of the order of precedence law.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Alfred Emberga, directed the clerk to write to all government officials and local government chairmen, mandating full compliance with the order.
He also stated that the State Director of Protocol must henceforth comply strictly with the law at public functions, warning that any official found ignoring the order of precedence would be held responsible for contravening the law. (NAN)
