Benue Governor's Aide Defends Attendance Directive

Sir Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, defended a directive mandating local government workers to maintain daily attendance registers. This directive, issued through the Benue State Local Government Service Commission, requires the 23 local government councils to track attendance, with salary payments contingent on meeting a minimum attendance threshold.

Kula dismissed objections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arguing that monitoring attendance does not infringe on local government autonomy as outlined in Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. He clarified that autonomy should not equate to isolation from state institutions and distinguished between financial autonomy and personnel administration.

Kula emphasized that the Local Government Service Commission has a role in personnel matters, and the directive aligns with legal frameworks governing local government operations. He challenged the PDP to clarify its stance on the commission's responsibilities and reiterated that local councils remain subject to applicable laws.