HOUSE DECISION ON MY COMMISSIONER NOT BINDING - SUSWAM

By Peter Duru
MAKURDI- GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, yesterday, said the resolution by the state House of Assembly directing him to sack his Information Commissioner, Mr. Conrad Wergba within seven days, was not binding on him.

Suswam said the decision to hire or fire a member of his executive council rested exclusively with him in line with the provisions of the law.

According to a statement by the media aide to the Information Commissioner and ICT Consultant to the Benue State Government, Mr. Tahav Agezua, the governor was quoted as saying that he would, however, initiate moves to resolve the dispute in the interest of the state.

He said: 'The decision to hire and fire a commissioner rests exclusively with me according to the law; the resolution of the Benue State House of Assembly that I should remove a Commissioner of the State Executive Council is not binding on me.'

It will be recalled that the Assembly had, last week, given the Governor a seven-day ultimatum to remove Mr. Wergba as commissioner following his refusal to resign within one week in accordance with its resolution with regard to what it considered uncomplimentary remarks on the House by the Commissioner.