Hyacinth Alia, the incoming governor of Benue State, and President Muhammadu Buhari met on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
After their discussion behind closed doors, Alia expressed her disapproval of the state of the Benue State civil service to reporters
He claims that the state’s civil service is in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and on the verge of collapse, but he has come to breathe life into it and keep it going.
When he assumed office on May 29, Alia observed that the state owed backlogs of salaries, pensions, and gratuities. He aims to maintain concentration and address the plethora of issues on his desk.
When asked if he would be looking into his predecessor in light of the letter he wrote to the Benue Investment Property Corporation alerting them to financial dealings with the current governor, Alia responded:
“I haven’t looked at the books, so Iwouldn’t be preemptivee.”. Once I’m sworn in, I’ll w know what the good people of Benue want for our progress and development. an agricultural zone, and so we must focus on agriculture and upgrade it.
“Benue is very capable of feeding the whole nation, so we are not just the food basket of the nation by name, and I am hoping that we will up our game in agriculture and take care of the rest as well.”
“It is sad that the life of civil service in the state is near collapse, it’s in the ICU, so I just need to get in there and infuse life into it and keep it moving.
”We have a large backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions, and gratuities. So, already, I have much on my desk to keep a good focus on, and I remain hopeful that I am going to do just that.”
The governor-elect praised President Buhari for making a clear decision to hold the elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On the resentment that abounds in the state as a result of the anti-grazing law, Alia stated: “One thing must stay clear; when you say that the atmosphere was quite tense, let it be known that the Benue people are really hospital people.”
“We are very friendly people, and over the ages, we’ve lived with all cultures and different people.” And so if some mishap had happened in the last eight years, thank God the eight years have expired.
“I want everyone to feel that Benue is a home for everyone. Remember, before I step in there as a governor, our history reveals that we have all cultures in Benue—that is, we have cultures from Nigeria in Benue.
”So I believe my time will not be any different. If there were any errors, I am coming to correct them.
”But I know for sure we are hospitable, we are friendly, and the Benue State Assembly is also a knowledgeable assembly.”
”So the 10th Assembly is going to work for the people and do the work of the people.” If by chance anybody perceived us to be a hostile state, please know that we are a renewed hope for Benue, a hospitable, friendly, law and order people.
”So, we are all welcome to Benue as we move in there.” (News Agency of Nigeria)
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Jairus Awo
Jairus Awo is a Nigeiran Muiltimedia public interest journalist. He believes in the power of the media as a catalyst to development and societal growth. You can tip him an idea on
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