Benue Assembly Passes Sweeping Local Government Reform Bill, Moves to Ban Toxic Food Chemicals
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
The Benue State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Local Government Amendment Bill into law, introducing far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots governance, improving service delivery, and boosting economic development across the state.
The development was contained in a statement issued by Zape Michael Upaa, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, on March 31, 2026.
The bill was passed after scaling third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, following deliberations on a report presented by the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Shimawua Emmanuel Terna.
Presenting the report, Terna explained that the existing State Local Government Law of 2007 “is repealed for clarity following the Supreme Court judgement of 2024,” noting that the new legislation would “introduce significant changes to the third tier of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.”
According to him, the amended law also provides financial backing for key institutions, including the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Government, Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Benue State Rehabilitation Board, state-owned universities, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, and Primary Health Care systems, to “enhance the efficiency of their operations.”
Key provisions of the law 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 critical MDAs to improve efficiency.
Beyond legislative reforms, the House also took a strong stance on public health, directing the Ministries of Health and Human Services, as well as 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 prosecute offenders.”
The Assembly further mandated its Committee on Food Security and Nutrition to collaborate with the relevant ministries to ensure “compliance with safety standards in food storage.”
Lawmakers warned against the use of hazardous substances in food preservation, stating that “toxic chemicals such as potassium bromate, sodium sulphite, sniper, propyl gallate, sodium benzoate, will further aggravate the health status of the citizenry thereby affecting the economy of the State.”
The House therefore urged the state government to “as a matter of urgency ban the use of toxic chemicals for food storage,” while encouraging farmers and food vendors to adopt “natural, non-toxic methods for food preservation such as proper ventilation, refrigeration and organic pesticides.”
The Assembly also criticised practices where businesses “prioritize profit over people’s health,” insisting on stricter enforcement measures to safeguard public wellbeing.
