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The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed into law the 2026 Local Government Amendment Bill after scaling through the third reading during a plenary presided over by the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, MNIQS, RQS.
The passage followed deliberations on the report presented by the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Shimawua Emmanuel Terna, representing Kyan State Constituency, Vandeikya Local Government Area. Hon. Shimawua explained that the State Local Government Law of 2007 has been repealed for clarity following the Supreme Court judgement of 2024.
The bill introduces significant changes to the third tier of government, enhancing economic development and growth, encouraging broader participation, and improving service delivery at the local government level. It also includes financial provisions for the Auditor-General for Local Government, Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Benue State Rehabilitation Board, State Owned Universities, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Primary Health Care and others to enhance the efficiency of their operations.
Key amendments include renaming the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, increasing the number of departments within local governments, and revising the percentage of funds allocated by Local Government Councils to key MDAs to enhance efficiency.
Also during plenary, the House directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to create public awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of chemicals laced food and promote healthy food choices as well as prosecute offenders.
Similarly, the House directed the Committee on Food Security and Nutrition to interface with the Ministry of Health and Human Services and that of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure compliance with safety standards in food storage.
The House equally encouraged farmers and sellers of food to use natural, non-toxic methods for food preservation such as proper ventilation, refrigeration and organic pesticides.
The House frowns at farmers and businesses that prioritize profit over people’s health, using toxic chemicals to extend shelf life and reduce costs, warning that toxic chemicals such as potassium bromate, Sodium Sulphite, Sniper, Propy! Gallate, Sodium Benzoate, will further aggravate the health status of the citizenry thereby affecting the economy of the State, urging the State government to as a matter of urgency ban the use of toxic chemicals for food storage.
The statement was signed by Zape Michael Upaa, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, BSHoA, on 31st March, 2026.
