Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has said, for record purposes, that his administration is yet to borrow a dime since he became governor on 29 May 2023.
The governor said he would only do so when it becomes extremely necessary, adding that “for now, prudence in governance must know us and call us by name”.
Alia disclosed this during the celebration of Democracy Day at IBB Square, Makurdi. He said he is committed to building formidable systems and institutions premised on fairness, accountability, democratic ethos, equity, and justice systems that are bigger and stronger than individuals.
He said: “Throughout this period, I have earned nothing close to love from those whose selfish interests I step upon to bring you comfort, happiness, and succour. But too high, I place your interest above theirs. Hence, I have no regrets for what I have lost in the course of this journey.
“As a government of popular consent, I am mindful of the honour and trust bestowed on me. For this, I have pushed sleep and comfort to the backseat to ensure that I live up to the expectations and terms of our social contract”.
Giving an account of his stewardship last year, the governor said: “It is no longer news that improved staff welfare, prompt payment of salaries and pensions/gratuities, as well as arrears, is now a mainstay under my watch. And so shall it continue to be”.
“Benue under my watch, has also weeded out thousands of ghost workers, ghost schools, and ghost agencies from our payroll. We have cut off all leakages and conduits of inefficient money-consuming channels obtainable in the past”.
He said as proof of their zeal towards rewriting the narrative of the education sector in Benue, they allocated 15 per cent of the 2024 budget to education, surpassing even the per cent at the federal level, adding that they have also trained over 150 headteachers and distributed over 100,000 instructional materials across public schools in the state to enhance teaching and learning.
“For instance, as part of palliatives for the removal of fuel subsidy, our administration decided to pay for the 2023/2024 examination fees of all students in government-approved public secondary schools in the state sitting for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, respectively.
“At the Benue State University, we have expanded academic programmes, established new faculties, restored scholarships for medical students, and paid outstanding salary arrears. We have upgraded the ICT facilities, preparing over 10,000 youths for the global market. The idea is to train over 60,000 youths”, he said.
The governor restated his commitment to rewriting the state’s socio-economic narrative and asked for continued support for his administration, which he hopes will put Benue on the global map.
