Benue Governor Rev. Hyacinth Alia continues to come under ferocious attacks from political opponents who question his transparency and accountability in the handling of state finances. The latest of the attacks is from Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, PDP governorship candidate for next year's election. So far, Aondoakaa and Herman Hembe, his ADC counterpart, have been the most relentless in accusingnthe Governor of gross financial misconduct. In his latest attack, the PDP candidate in a facebook post titled, 'The lie they tell Benue people about what the State is getting and the mismanagement of funds by Governor Alia', Aondoakaa claims that, "While our people are constantly told to 'be patient' and 'pray for better days', the official figures contained in the InfoTAG Report (2023–June 2026) appear to paint a troubling picture of how Benue State’s resources are being managed". Aondoakaa said, "Benue people were promised equity, accountability and relief. Instead, the figures raise serious questions about distribution, spending priorities and transparency." The PDP candidate's statement read: "1. A State divided by numbers, not unity: Out of N347 billion spent on zonal capital projects across Benue, Zone B received N317 billion, representing 91%. Zone A received N17 billion (5%), while Zone C received only N8 billion (2%). Even more disturbing, N332 billion, representing about 98.5% of the expenditure, is concentrated in just three locations: Makurdi, Otukpo and Vandeikya, leaving 20 local government areas with little or nothing to show. How do we explain this to a child in Kwande, Oju, Ukum or Agatu who has never seen a good road or a functional hospital? "2. Millions for luxury, pennies for survival: According to the report, more than N1.1 trillion came into the state’s coffers. Yet 60%, approximately N664 billion, went into recurrent expenditure, while only 34% went to capital development. The Ministry of Finance received N9 billion for capital releases, out of which N8 billion was spent on Hilux vehicles, Jeeps and buses meant for the Executive. Meanwhile, critical sectors remain poorly funded: - Education: 6% — N27 billion - Water infrastructure: 4% — N14 billion - Security: 3% — N10 billion - Electricity: 1% — N2 billion These figures raise a fundamental question: What exactly are the priorities of the Alia administration? "3. Soaring wage bills, collapsing revenue: We are constantly told that the government is cutting costs. Yet, according to the report, the monthly wage bill increased from N4 billion in 2023 to N20 billion in June 2026. At the same time, monthly internally generated revenue fell from N2.9 billion to just N918 million. How does a government justify spending three times more on administration while generating only a fraction of its previous monthly revenue? "4. N130b for roads, but where are the roads? The expenditure on roads at N130 billion. Of this amount, N81 billion is described as “vague road expenditure,” without a clear breakdown of the projects or their locations. If N81 billion of public money cannot be clearly traced to specific projects, then Benue people deserve answers. Our farmers are still moving their produce through deplorable roads, while communities continue to struggle for basic infrastructure. "5. N383b to local governments: what happened to the money? According to the report, local government councils received N383 billion through FAAC allocations during the period under review. Yet, across many rural communities, basic infrastructure remains severely inadequate. Where did the money go? Who is accounting for these funds? Who is monitoring what the local governments are doing with the resources allocated to them? Benue taxpayers deserve answers, Aondoakaa stated, adding, "Governor Hyacinth Alia cannot continue to hide behind propaganda while serious questions about public expenditure remain unanswered. The people of Benue deserve to know how much comes into the state, how much is spent, where it is spent and who benefits from it. This is not about politics. It is about accountability," the statement ended. The Mandate observed that most respondents to Aondoakaa's allegations were sceptical or outrightly condemning of the PDP candidate while others dismissed them, claiming that they are satisfied with Alia's performance in office.

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026