The Benue State House of Assembly has approved the downward review of 2024 supplementary budget to the tune of N23.5 billion to help accommodate ongoing discussions and negotiations surrounding the new minimum wage for public sector employees.

The House gave the approval on Monday during a plenary presided by the Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh.

The governor had in a correspondence sent to the Speaker, which was read on the floor, sought for the review of the supplementary budget.

According to the correspondence, the governor stated that the “downward review of the supplementary budget will help ensure that the government remains financially responsible”.

“It will also meet the legitimate expectations of workers who are struggling with the rising costs of living and will ease the implementation of the new minimum wage structure

“This will also send a positive signal to the public that the government is committed to balancing fiscal prudence with social equity.”

The House also summoned all the chairmen of the 23 local governments and heads of revenue departments to appear before it on Friday.

The resolution followed a motion by the Chairman, House Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Moses Egbodo, who informed the lawmakers of their refusal to honour the invitation of the Joint Ad-hoc Committee on Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, investigating the enforcement of the use of Benue sacks.

Egbodo, in the motion, appealed to the House to invoke its powers to compel the LG chairmen and officials to appear.

Minimum wage: Benue Assembly approves downward revision of supplementary budget