Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
In a recent development, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Alfred Aondonaaver Emberga has approved the redeployment of the Clerk of the House, John T. Hwande, to the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission. The announcement, detailed in a letter dated August 26, 2025, appoints Hwande as the substantive Secretary of the Commission, effective September 1, 2025.
According to the directive, Hwande is to hand over his duties to an acting Clerk, who will be appointed by the House no later than August 31, 2025. Additionally, the acting Secretary of the Assembly Service Commission, Mr. David Ochapa, has been recalled and instructed to return to the House for reassignment by September 1, 2025. Copies of the letter were forwarded to key state officials, including the Permanent Secretary of Government House Administration, the Chairman of the Assembly Service Commission, the Accountant-General, and the Auditor-General, for necessary action.
The redeployment is reportedly part of a broader administrative restructuring aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Assembly Service Commission. However, the move has sparked significant controversy, with questions raised about its legality and procedural correctness.
Public affairs commentator Gurgur Japheth has publicly criticized the redeployment, arguing that the Speaker lacks the authority to initiate such a decision. Japheth emphasized that the Clerk of the State Assembly is appointed by the State Assembly Service Commission (SASC), not the Speaker. “The State Assembly Service Commission, rather than the Speaker, is responsible for decisions regarding the Clerk,” Japheth stated. “Therefore, the ‘redeployment’ should have been approved and communicated by the Commission, not the Speaker. That is the procedure.”
The controversy has ignited discussions about the separation of powers within the state’s legislative framework and the proper channels for administrative decisions. Critics argue that bypassing the Assembly Service Commission undermines established protocols and could set a problematic precedent.
As the September 1 effective date approaches, all eyes are on the Benue State House of Assembly to see how this issue will be resolved and whether further clarifications or actions will address the concerns raised. The outcome of this redeployment could have significant implications for the administrative operations of the Assembly and its relationship with the Assembly Service Commission.
Source Daily Post Nigeria.
