The Managing Director/CEO of Benue Digital Infrastructure Company PLC (BDIC), Gbande Hembaor Terwase, led the Honourable Members of the Benue State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Aondona Hycinth Dajo, in a landmark breakfast meeting to launch the Benue State Assembly e-Parliament system. This historic move will digitize all laws passed by the Assembly, introduce a fully paperless parliament, and enable a virtual parliamentary system — a leap forward in smart governance and citizen participation. The entire system has been developed by BDIC in line with His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormen Alia’s Digital Benue vision.
Globally, an e-Parliament represents the digital transformation of legislative processes through modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enhance transparency, efficiency, accessibility, and citizen engagement in law-making. Around the world, e-Parliaments enable legislatures to hold virtual sittings, manage paperless documentation, give the public real-time access to legislative information, and use online platforms for petitions, consultations, and public hearings. The result is smarter, more open, and people-focused democratic institutions that meet the demands of the 21st century.
The Benue State e-Parliament delivers direct, tangible benefits to citizens and legislators alike. With an e-Petitions and Complaints Portal, constituents can submit petitions and complaints online 24/7, track their status transparently, and receive timely responses — bringing government closer to the people. A Virtual Public Hearing Platform will break geographic and social barriers, enabling active participation from rural communities, diaspora citizens, youths, and persons with disabilities, all without needing to travel to Makurdi. Digital management of bills, votes, budgets, and committee reports will drastically cut printing, filing, and travel costs, while enabling real-time collaboration among lawmakers.
For the Assembly, this is a transformative efficiency tool; for the citizens, it is a gateway to inclusion. Legislative work will be faster, smarter, and more accountable, with automated workflows for bill tracking, committee coordination, and voting. Citizens will gain unprecedented access to live-streamed plenaries, open document repositories, and opportunities to contribute to policymaking in real time. This builds transparency, strengthens trust, and deepens democracy in Benue State.
By adopting full-scale e-Parliament implementation, the Benue State House of Assembly is making history as Nigeria’s first truly digital subnational legislature. This bold step positions Benue as a trailblazer and national benchmark in citizen-driven, cost-effective lawmaking, aligning perfectly with the Governor’s digital transformation agenda. Through BDIC’s innovation and technical leadership, Benue is setting the pace for a connected, inclusive, and globally competitive governance model — a true symbol of visionary leadership in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
