By Elijah Terdoo Ikpanor
The question of continuity in governance is ultimately a question of performance, direction, accountability and the future a government is building for its people. In Benue State, the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has pursued an agenda that places infrastructure renewal, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, industrial development and public-sector reforms at the centre of its governance priorities. While the state continues to contend with significant challenges, particularly insecurity, unemployment, poverty, infrastructure deficits and inherited financial obligations, the interventions undertaken by the administration provide an important basis for assessing its performance and considering the argument for continuity.
The case for a second term is not that every problem confronting Benue has been resolved. Rather, it rests on the argument that several important projects have been initiated, some long-standing obligations are being addressed, and a development direction has begun to take shape. The central question is whether Benue should consolidate these efforts, strengthen what is working, correct what remains inadequate and ensure that ongoing investments produce lasting benefits for its people.
Makurdi Township Roads and Urban Renewal
One of the most visible features of the Alia administration has been the transformation of Makurdi’s road network. For years, the state capital struggled with deteriorating roads, poor drainage, difficult access to residential neighbourhoods and the absence of adequate urban infrastructure. Many settlements experienced serious transportation difficulties due to flooding, particularly during the rainy season. The growing population of Makurdi, expansion of commercial activities and increasing pressure on existing infrastructure made the need for comprehensive road renewal more urgent.
The Alia administration’s intervention has brought renewed attention to township roads across several parts of the capital. More than 45 township road projects has been completed, with the number of intra-city roads undertaken rising above 50 by the administration’s third anniversary. These interventions have touched neighbourhoods that had for years remained inadequately connected to the main road network.
In Wurukum, roads such as Sir James Iorpuu Street, Tyagher Gbaa Street, Victoria Aende Street, Kekenapep Street, David Jebe Street and Ignatius Uva Street have formed part of the road renewal programme. The Wurukum–Akpehe Market Road has also attracted attention because of its importance to commercial movement and access to one of the city’s busy trading areas. These roads are not simply construction projects; they are routes through which residents access their homes, traders move goods, workers commute and businesses sustain their daily activities.
In North Bank, the Federal Low-Cost Housing Street and Basil Kwembeh Street have featured among the road interventions. In High Level, the Iorkyaa-Ako Extension Street, Eight Avenue and the High-Level Roundabout Interchange and underpass have contributed to the administration’s broader urban infrastructure programme. The interchange is particularly important because of the traffic congestion associated with one of Makurdi’s busy junctions.
In Kanshio, Augustina Street and Navy Barracks Road have also benefited from road construction and improvement. The New GRA has witnessed interventions on streets including Orkuma Akunda, Adikwu, Kuma Abanyam, Tanguhaa, John Feese, Odeh Agah, Keghem Malu and Lush. In Wadata, Sokoto Street and Gaadi Layout Ring Road Phase One have featured in the effort to improve connectivity. Other roads, including Ushongo Street in Idye Village, Richard Tachia Street, Aondoakaa Ger Street, Idye Naor Street and Emmanuel Amue Street, have equally formed part of the wider urban renewal effort.
A particularly significant project is the Ishaya Bakut Road dual carriageway, approximately 1.9 kilometres long, subsequently renamed Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road. Its importance lies not only in its physical appearance but also in its contribution to movement and connectivity within the capital.
In as much as the Governor doesn’t fancy the commissioning of projects, on 16 June 2026, the First Lady of Nigeria commissioned ten roads in Makurdi, covering approximately 11.5 kilometres. The projects included the Ishaya Bakut dual carriageway and its connecting roads, Abu King Shuluwa Road, Mama Mbateren Alia Street, formerly known as Keke Napep Road, Dabo Plaza–Fashion Hub Road, Sir James Iorpuu Street, Tyagher Gbaa Street, Jato Aka Road and other connecting spurs. The commissioning provided public recognition of the growing scale of road construction and urban renewal in the state capital.
Beyond these completed and commissioned projects, the Jonah Jang Crescent dual carriageway has also progressed, while the David Mark Bypass has been among the major road projects receiving attention. Early this year, the Ministry of Works announced a 38.6-kilometre Makurdi road reconstruction programme estimated at about N56 billion. The programme covers important roads, including Kashim Ibrahim Road, David Mark Bypass, Joe Akaahan Road, John Atom Kpera Road, Atiku Abubakar Road, Iyorchia Ayu Road, Abdullahi Sheleng Road, Old Otukpo Road and J.S. Tarka Way. The proposed improvements which is ongoing include road dividers, walkways, bus stops and other features associated with modern urban road infrastructure.
Roads beyond Makurdi
The administration’s infrastructure agenda has not been confined to the state capital. Other urban centres and rural communities across the three senatorial zones have also featured in the state’s road development programme. The Gyado Junction Interchange in Gboko is one of the projects intended to improve traffic movement and urban connectivity. Its importance reflects the need to extend infrastructure development beyond Makurdi and ensure that other commercial and population centres benefit from public investment.
The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has also contributed to the improvement of rural roads, bridges and culverts. The Alia administration has placed rural road interventions at approximately 370 kilometres by the administration’s third anniversary. Such investments are particularly important in a state where agriculture remains central to livelihoods and economic activity.
For farming communities, access roads are not simply transportation facilities. They determine whether farmers can move fertiliser, seeds, equipment and harvested produce between farms, villages, markets and processing centres. Poor rural roads increase transportation costs, contribute to post-harvest losses and discourage investment in agricultural production. Improving these connections is therefore an important part of any strategy for rural development and food security.
Significantly is the approximately 16-kilometre Gbem–Hegha–Igbor–Mbayegh–Ushongo Town road, which is expected to improve connectivity among the benefiting communities and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and other goods.
The construction of a four-cell box culvert across River Lessel, linking Mbagba and Ihugh, is another important intervention. Beyond facilitating movement, the structure addresses a major physical barrier that has affected access between the communities, particularly during the rainy season.
In Konshisha Local Government Area, the Ikyobo–Mbanor–Mhambe road is among the notable rural road projects. Other interventions include the Vandeikya–Korinya road through Tse-Agberagba towards Gungul–Awajir; the Ge–Ikyobo–Agbeede road towards Anshagba Iber; and the Awajir–Oju corridor. The 5-kilometre township road programme in Tse-Agberagba, covering routes around Ujege’s House, the Chairman’s House, the Council Secretariat and RCM School, also forms part of the effort to improve local access and mobility.
Other rural connectivity projects in the zone include the Branch Atser–Korinya–Wuese road and the Adikpo–Koti–Yough–Vandeikya road, with a spur to Tse Mker. The approximately 20-kilometre Mbawuar Secondary School–Bako–Naa road, together with its 14-kilometre spur to Mede-Mbaakon, is also important to the movement of people and agricultural produce. Together, these projects are intended to strengthen connections between communities, improve access to markets and public services, and support economic activities.
Director II, Research Directorate Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council
The administration has pursued road interventions in other places too. In Guma Local Government Area, the approximately 47-kilometre Daudu–Gbajimba road is a major rural connectivity project. The Manyam–Unongo–Nambe road, measuring approximately 23 kilometres, is another intervention designed to improve access among rural settlements.
In Gboko, the Gyado Junction Interchange is a major road infrastructure intervention. Its importance lies in improving traffic movement, easing congestion and supporting the growing commercial and urban activities around the junction. Other rural road interventions, including the Ateku–Ikpenger route, further demonstrate the need to extend road infrastructure beyond major urban centres.
The approximately 52-kilometre Oju–Awajir road is one of the major projects in Zone C. With a reported contract value of about ₦25.59 billion, the road is significant because it connects communities across Oju, Konshisha and Gwer East, thereby strengthening movement between parts of the three senatorial zones.
Other major projects include the approximately 31.36-kilometre Igumale–Agila road, with a reported contract value of about ₦19.37 billion, and the approximately 43.5-kilometre Obagaji–Okokolo–Agagbe road, reported at about ₦29.89 billion. These roads are expected to improve access to markets, connect settlements and support agricultural and commercial activities.
Community road interventions have also been carried out in Eke–Akpa and Ameojo in Ikumeja, Okpokwu Local Government Area; Adum East in Obi; and Igwu–Ako, Otukpa and Olachagbaha in Ogbadibo. The 5-kilometre township road programme across each of the nine local government areas in the zone is another component of the wider effort to improve local road infrastructure.
The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has also contributed to rural connectivity through projects such as the approximately 26-kilometre Ojegba–Ukpila–Ilega–Oboro Oho Market Square road, with a spur towards the Ukpila–Ohuhu–Owo Federal Road junction. These interventions are particularly relevant to farming communities whose economic activities depend on reliable access to markets.
Bridges, Culverts and Rural Access Infrastructure
Road construction is most effective when supported by bridges, culverts and other drainage structures that guarantee year-round accessibility. In this regard, the construction and rehabilitation of bridges and culverts form an important part of the state’s rural infrastructure programme.
The four-cell box culvert across River Lessel, linking Mbagba and Ighugh in Ushongo, illustrates the importance of such supporting infrastructure. Across the state, the RAAMP programme has also reported the delivery of more than 140 bridges and culverts as part of efforts to improve rural access and address difficulties caused by rivers, streams, seasonal flooding and difficult terrain.
These structures are not merely supplementary works. They are essential components of rural development because a road without adequate drainage and crossing infrastructure can become inaccessible during the rainy season, undermining the economic and social benefits of the investment.
The spread of road, bridge and culvert projects across the three senatorial zones demonstrates the administration’s effort to improve connectivity beyond Makurdi. The long-term value of these interventions will depend on timely completion, construction quality, effective supervision, proper drainage, maintenance and the continued expansion of rural access infrastructure.
Healthcare Revitalisation and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital
Healthcare is another area in which the administration has undertaken important interventions. The Benue State University Teaching Hospital remains a critical institution in the state’s healthcare system, serving as a referral centre for patients from different parts of Benue and neighbouring states. Like many public hospitals, it has faced challenges involving infrastructure, equipment, personnel, remuneration and the general capacity to provide specialised medical services.
The Alia administration has pursued improvements in the hospital’s facilities, staffing and service delivery. One particularly significant development was the government’s reported recruitment of more than 500 healthcare personnel to strengthen the health workforce. The recruitment of doctors, nurses and other health professionals is important because infrastructure alone cannot guarantee effective healthcare delivery without adequate personnel.
The government paid approximately ₦2.3 billion towards outstanding arrears and reviewed allowances for consultants, resident doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The intervention covered outstanding entitlements, annual increments and the 2026 promotion exercise. This is an important acknowledgement that the welfare of healthcare personnel is directly connected to the quality and availability of medical services.
Other healthcare interventions have included attention to the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, specialist medical services, cancer treatment facilities and primary healthcare. These initiatives are important in a state where access to quality healthcare remains a challenge for many rural and low-income households.
Education, Institutional Renewal and the Welfare of Tertiary Institution Workers
Education has occupied an important place in the administration’s development agenda. The state’s educational challenges are extensive, ranging from inadequate infrastructure and shortages of qualified teachers to institutional funding, staff welfare and the need to improve access to quality education.
At the basic education level, the administration has announced a free education policy covering Basic One to Basic Nine. More than 375 public schools have reportedly been rehabilitated, while approximately 9,700 teachers have been recruited into the basic education system. These initiatives are major interventions intended to strengthen teaching capacity, improve learning environments and address personnel shortages. They have the potential to improve access to education, particularly for children from low-income households who might otherwise struggle to remain in school.
The long-term success of the policy will depend on regular funding, adequate classroom facilities, the provision of instructional materials, teacher training, supervision and the timely payment of teachers’ salaries. Free education must mean more than removing tuition charges; it must create an environment in which children receive meaningful instruction and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for their future.
The administration has also trained more than 10,000 young people in digital-skills training through state ICT empowerment programmes. This is particularly relevant in an economy increasingly shaped by technology, digital communication and online services. Digital skills can improve employability, support entrepreneurship and provide young people with opportunities beyond the conventional labour market.
At the tertiary level, the administration has taken steps to address institutional challenges at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, formerly Benue State University. In November 2025, the State Executive Council approved more than ₦2.9 billion for outstanding allowances owed to staff of the university and its College of Health Sciences. Subsequent developments were the payments of outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage-award and minimum-wage obligations covering 22 months, with payments arranged in instalments and completed in September, 2026.
The university also received attention in relation to promotion arrears dating back to 2018, the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, omitted or underpaid Earned Academic Allowances, the 2025 promotion exercise and pension-related interventions. These measures are important because the quality of a university depends not only on its physical facilities and academic programmes but also on the professional stability and welfare of its employees.
An even more significant development just occurred last week, on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, when Governor Alia cleared 45 months of outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in five state-owned tertiary institutions, amounting to over ₦2 billion. The affected institutions are Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev, Gboko; Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi; Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; College of Education, Katsina-Ala; and College of Education, Oju. Staff of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, formerly Benue State University, had reportedly received their payment earlier.
This intervention is particularly important because the accumulated arrears had been a major source of frustration among academic and non-academic staff and had contributed to industrial disputes in the tertiary education sector. For workers who had endured prolonged periods without receiving their full financial entitlements, the settlement represents substantial relief and an important step towards restoring confidence in the institutions and their governing authorities.
The development also needs to be understood within the context of the salary adjustments approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. The Federal Government approved a 25 per cent increase in the basic salaries of non-teaching staff and a 35 per cent increase for teaching staff in tertiary institutions. According to documents released and signed by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions, Benue State (ASUTIBS), the Alia administration has implemented and paid these approved increments. The union described Benue as the first and only state, apart from the Federal Government, to have fully implemented the adjustment since its approval.
The government also reportedly settled the outstanding one-month salary arrears owed to tertiary institution workers by the previous administration in 2017. This is noteworthy because it demonstrates attention to inherited obligations that had remained unresolved for several years.
The practical outcome of the latest intervention was the suspension of the industrial action embarked upon by ASUTIBS. Following the government’s payment, the union directed its members across the affected institutions to resume work immediately. This represents a major step towards restoring industrial harmony, protecting the academic calendar and ensuring that students can return to uninterrupted lectures, examinations and other academic activities.
The establishment of the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh, is another major development in the state’s educational landscape. Following the approval of the National Universities Commission on 2025, the institution is placed to expand opportunities for higher education and strengthen the state’s capacity in agriculture, science, technology and research. Located in Ihugh, Vandeikya, the university has the potential to become a centre for agricultural innovation, mechanisation, food processing, biotechnology and agribusiness.
For Benue, which is widely recognised for its agricultural potential, the establishment of a specialised university in this area is strategically important. It creates an opportunity to connect higher education with the productive sectors of the economy and to develop graduates with practical skills capable of transforming agriculture and related industries.
Industrialisation, Wealth Creation and the Transformation of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC)
For many years, Benue’s economic potential has been constrained by its limited industrial base. Despite its enormous agricultural resources and its reputation as Nigeria’s Food Basket, the state has remained heavily dependent on the movement of raw agricultural products to processing centres outside its borders. This has meant that a substantial portion of the economic value generated from Benue’s agricultural production is captured elsewhere, while the state loses opportunities for industrial employment, local manufacturing, investment expansion and internally generated revenue.
The Alia administration has sought to reverse this situation through a deliberate industrialisation agenda, with the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) serving as one of the principal instruments for translating the state’s economic potential into productive investments. Under Governor Hyacinth Alia, BIPC has been repositioned from an organisation traditionally associated with the management and disposal of government shares and properties towards an investment-driven institution focused on industrial production, asset revitalisation, wealth creation and sustainable economic development.
One of the most remarkable indicators of this transformation is the growth in BIPC’s stock valuation. The company’s stock valuation stood at ₦7,949,075,082.30 when the present management assumed office. It has subsequently risen to ₦25,150,927,722.63, representing an increase of approximately ₦17.2 billion, or about 216 per cent over three years. This is a substantial appreciation in the company’s reported stock valuation and provides an important indication of the scale of asset growth and investment activity under the present administration.
The significance of this development goes beyond the numerical increase. It suggests a shift towards building productive economic assets that can generate employment, expand industrial capacity and create sustainable returns for the state. Rather than depending principally on the sale of existing assets or borrowing to finance recurrent obligations, the administration has encouraged BIPC to invest in production, revive dormant facilities and develop industries capable of retaining more of Benue’s economic value within the state.
This industrialisation vision is reflected in several projects undertaken or advanced by BIPC. Among them are the establishment of the Food Basket Brewery, the revival and modernisation of Bensono Concentrate Factory, the construction of the BIPC Bakery and Water Factory, the Benval Juice Factory, Taraku Mills, and the printing and nylon manufacturing factory. These projects represent an attempt to build an interconnected industrial economy in which agricultural commodities, local raw materials, manufacturing, packaging and distribution support one another.
The Food Basket Brewery is particularly significant because it represents an effort to establish a manufacturing presence in the state’s beverage and allied industries. The BIPC Bakery and Water Factory similarly demonstrate the company’s intention to expand local production and reduce dependence on products manufactured outside Benue. The printing and nylon factory has also commenced production, supplying markets in Taraba, Lafia, Makurdi and other locations. Its operations demonstrate the possibility of producing locally for markets beyond the boundaries of the state, thereby expanding the commercial reach of Benue-based industries.
The revival of Bensono Concentrate Factory is another important intervention. Its modernisation provides an opportunity to strengthen the state’s capacity for food processing and value addition. Similarly, the Benval Juice Factory, which was reported to be approximately 95 per cent complete, represents a significant investment in the processing of agricultural produce. When fully operational, the factory has the potential to strengthen the relationship between local farmers and agro-processing industries, create markets for agricultural commodities and generate employment across production, transportation, packaging and distribution.
Perhaps one of the most significant industrial interventions is the revival of Taraku Mills. For years, the facility represented an underutilised industrial asset despite its enormous economic potential. Under the present administration, the mill has been revived and commenced test-run operations. According to the BIPC management, the revival has activated an industrial asset valued at approximately ₦70 billion. This is particularly important because the facility provides opportunities for processing agricultural commodities, including soya beans, strengthening the market for farmers’ produce and creating a more direct connection between agricultural production and industrial manufacturing.
The economic implications of reviving Taraku Mills are substantial. Benue farmers frequently encounter difficulties in accessing reliable markets, processing facilities and competitive prices for their agricultural products. The presence of a functional industrial processing facility can help address some of these challenges by creating demand for locally produced raw materials. It can also stimulate investment in mechanised agriculture, storage, transportation and related services. In this sense, industrialisation and agricultural development are complementary rather than separate policy objectives.
BIPC’s industrial expansion has also translated into increased employment opportunities. The company’s workforce increased from 121 employees at the point of handover to approximately 784 under the present management, with additional recruitment expected as the various industrial facilities expand their operations. This represents a substantial increase in the number of people directly engaged by the company. Beyond direct employment, the factories are expected to generate additional opportunities for farmers, distributors, transport operators, suppliers, technicians, artisans and other participants in their respective value chains.
Another important dimension of BIPC’s transformation is its property development programme. The Eco City housing developments represent an effort to expand the company’s participation in the property and housing sector, while Macafa Park and the remodelling of the BIPC headquarters reflect the broader attention being given to the development and modernisation of corporate and commercial assets. These projects demonstrate that BIPC’s investment mandate extends beyond manufacturing to include property development, urban investment and the management of commercially viable state-owned assets.
Equally important is the institutional restructuring taking place within the company. BIPC has engaged Knight Frank for asset valuation, geo-fencing and geographical information system mapping. This exercise is intended to establish a more comprehensive understanding of the company’s property holdings, their locations, values and investment potential. Proper asset documentation is essential for preventing the loss or mismanagement of public property, improving investment decisions and ensuring that government-owned assets are managed transparently.
The engagement of KPMG International for the company’s restructuring is another significant development. The exercise is aimed at strengthening corporate governance, investment policies, management structures and institutional accountability. These reforms are important because the sustainability of BIPC’s industrialisation agenda depends not only on the establishment of factories but also on the quality of the institution managing them. A company with substantial public assets requires transparent financial management, professional administration, effective corporate governance and investment decisions guided by commercial realities.
Furthermore, BIPC is working towards listing on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). This proposed development could represent an important milestone in the company’s institutional evolution. A successful listing would potentially expand its access to capital, strengthen disclosure requirements, improve corporate accountability and expose the company to a wider community of investors. It would also create an opportunity for Benue’s investment company to operate within a more competitive and transparent capital-market environment. The proposed listing, once achieved, could become one of the important legacies of the administration’s economic reform programme.
The increase in BIPC’s stock valuation from approximately ₦7.9 billion to over ₦25.1 billion, the expansion of its workforce from 121 to approximately 784, the revival of Taraku Mills, the establishment and expansion of factories, and the institutional restructuring undertaken by the company collectively provide evidence of a changing investment orientation in Benue State. These developments suggest an administration seeking to transform public assets into productive instruments of economic growth rather than treating them merely as properties to be held or disposed of.
For Benue, the implications are particularly important. A state that produces substantial quantities of yams, soya beans, cassava, rice, citrus fruits and other agricultural commodities should have the industrial capacity to process, package and market a significant proportion of these products. Such a strategy can improve farmers’ incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, create employment, stimulate local entrepreneurship and increase the state’s participation in national and international markets.
This is one of the strongest arguments for continuity in the Alia administration’s economic agenda. Industrial investments require time to mature, factories require sustained capital and management attention, and the benefits of agro-industrial development become more visible when production, distribution and market networks are fully established. Interrupting or abandoning an emerging industrialisation programme could undermine investments already made and delay the economic benefits expected from them.
In fact, the transformation of BIPC therefore represents more than the expansion of a state-owned company. It reflects an attempt to change the economic structure of Benue State from one that predominantly produces and exports raw agricultural commodities to one that increasingly processes, manufactures and creates value locally. If sustained and strengthened, this approach could become one of the most enduring economic legacies of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
Agriculture, Fertiliser Subsidy and Food Security
The Alia administration has introduced subsidised agricultural inputs as part of its effort to reduce production costs and improve farmers’ access to essential resources. Shortly after assuming office in 2023, the government initiated fertiliser distribution interventions alongside the provision of improved seeds, seedlings and agrochemicals.
In September 2025, the government flagged off the distribution of 9,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, equivalent to approximately 600 truckloads, with a reported value of about ₦16.8 billion. Under the arrangement, the state subsidised 50 per cent of the cost, allowing farmers to purchase a 50-kilogramme bag at ₦22,500 through approved distribution centres and cashless payment arrangements.
Another fertiliser distribution programme was launched in 2026, with farmers expected to pay ₦28,000 for a 50-kilogramme bag while the government absorbed the balance of approximately ₦28,000. The programme was intended to cover farmers across the state’s 23 local government areas. The 2026 agricultural input programme also provided for the procurement of 18,000 metric tonnes of assorted fertiliser, approximately 1,656,000 litres of agrochemicals, 46,000 knapsack sprayers and about 387,090 kilogrammes of assorted seeds.
ALIA-CARES and Support for Vulnerable Households
The Benue State component of Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme, known as ALIA-CARES, has also contributed to the administration’s social and economic interventions.
Through ALIA-CARES, interventions have targeted vulnerable households, small businesses, farmers, persons with disabilities and communities requiring social and economic support. The programme has included social transfers, livelihood assistance, support for micro and small enterprises, agricultural interventions and community infrastructure.
The state government also provided ₦1.15 billion in counterpart support and more than 60,000 residents benefited from grants valued at approximately ₦4.9 billion. With this, direct beneficiaries had risen to 88,109, representing approximately 90 per cent of a revised target of 97,917.
Security and the Protection of Lives and Property
Security remains one of the most difficult and urgent challenges confronting Benue State. For several years, communities across different parts of the state have experienced attacks, displacement, destruction of property and the disruption of farming and other economic activities. The consequences have been severe for rural households, particularly farming communities whose livelihoods depend on access to land and the security of their settlements.
The Alia administration has made security a major governance priority and has pursued collaboration with conventional security agencies while developing additional community-based security structures. One of the prominent initiatives is the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, popularly associated with the Anyam Nyor security arrangement.
The Civil Protection Guards were launched with an initial deployment structure involving approximately 5,000 personnel, 100 Hilux vehicles and 600 motorcycles. In 2026, additional logistical support, including 150 Hilux vehicles and more than 600 motorcycles were provided.
Workers’ Welfare, Salary Payments and Public-Sector Responsibility
The Alia administration has repeatedly presented the regular payment of salaries as a priority. Beyond addressing inherited salary arrears, the government has also taken steps to improve workers’ remuneration through the implementation of a new minimum wage that is higher than the national benchmark.
In a significant decision, Governor Alia approved a minimum wage of ₦75,000 for Benue State civil servants, effective from November 2024. This was ₦5,000 above the Federal Government’s minimum wage benchmark of ₦70,000. The decision demonstrated the administration’s willingness to improve the earnings of state workers beyond the national minimum and recognise the increasing economic pressures facing public servants and their families.
The importance of this decision goes beyond the additional ₦5,000. It reflects an understanding that workers’ welfare must be treated as an essential component of governance and public-sector productivity. Government employees are responsible for delivering education, healthcare, administration, infrastructure and other essential services. Their motivation, commitment and efficiency are closely connected to the extent to which government fulfils its obligations to them.
Equally important is the administration’s emphasis on the consistent payment of monthly salaries as and when due. Regular salary payment should not be regarded as a favour to public servants; it is a fundamental responsibility of government. Workers depend on their monthly earnings to meet family obligations, pay school fees, provide healthcare, service financial commitments and contribute to the local economy. When salaries are paid promptly and consistently, workers can plan their lives with greater certainty, public institutions function more effectively and confidence in government is strengthened.
The administration’s commitment to prompt salary payment therefore deserves recognition, while the expectation must be that this becomes a sustained and dependable practice across the public service. The implementation of the new minimum wage should also be consolidated through effective financial planning to ensure that improved remuneration does not become irregular or difficult to sustain.
The distinction between regular monthly salary payments and the settlement of historical arrears is important. While prompt payment protects workers from recurring financial uncertainty, the settlement of inherited arrears addresses accumulated hardship arising from previous years. Both are necessary to restore confidence in the public service.
The latest intervention involving state-owned tertiary institutions provides one of the clearest illustrations of the administration’s engagement with inherited workers’ obligations. On Tuesday, 10 November 2026, Governor Alia cleared 45 months of outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in five state-owned tertiary institutions, amounting to over ₦2 billion. The affected institutions are Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev, Gboko; Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi; Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; College of Education, Katsina-Ala; and College of Education, Oju. Staff of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, formerly Benue State University, had reportedly received their payment earlier.
The intervention is particularly important because the accumulated arrears had been a major source of frustration among academic and non-academic staff and had contributed to industrial disputes in the tertiary education sector. For workers who had endured prolonged periods without receiving their full financial entitlements, the settlement represents substantial relief and an important step towards restoring confidence in the institutions and their governing authorities.
The development also needs to be understood within the context of the salary adjustments approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. The Federal Government approved a 25 per cent increase in the basic salaries of non-teaching staff and a 35 per cent increase for teaching staff in tertiary institutions. According to documents released and signed by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions, Benue State (ASUTIBS), the Alia administration has implemented and paid these approved increments. The union described Benue as the first and only state, apart from the Federal Government, to have fully implemented the adjustment since its approval.
The government also reportedly settled the outstanding one-month salary arrears owed to tertiary institution workers by the previous administration in 2017. This is noteworthy because it demonstrates attention to inherited obligations that had remained unresolved for several years.
The practical outcome of the latest intervention was the suspension of the industrial action embarked upon by ASUTIBS. Following the government’s payment, the union directed its members across the affected institutions to resume work immediately. This represents a major step towards restoring industrial harmony, protecting the academic calendar and ensuring that students can return to uninterrupted lectures, examinations and other academic activities.
Other Development Interventions and the Wider Governance Agenda
Beyond the major sectors already discussed, the administration has pursued interventions in water supply, transportation, digital skills and public-service development. The rehabilitation of Otobi Water Works is significant here too. It is a project that has been abandoned over the years but is currently receiving attention.
The Case for Continuity
The developments across infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, industrialisation, social protection and security provide a basis for assessing the Alia administration’s performance. They demonstrate a government that has pursued a number of visible projects and undertaken interventions aimed at addressing inherited institutional and financial challenges.
The recently cleared 45 months of salary arrears owed to workers in five tertiary institutions is particularly important in this regard. It shows that continuity is not only about physical projects but also about addressing the human and institutional dimensions of governance. The suspension of the ASUTIBS strike following the settlement is evidence of the immediate importance of such interventions. The implementation of the 25 percent and 35 percent salary adjustments, the settlement of the outstanding arrears and other payments to the staff of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University shows that staff welfare is an essential part of the Alia administration’s educational development agenda.
The approval of a ₦75,000 minimum wage for state civil servants, exceeding the federal benchmark by ₦5,000, adds another important dimension to this record. When considered alongside the administration’s emphasis on consistent salary payments, it demonstrates the importance being attached to the welfare and economic security of public servants.
When we put all the interventions together, it is safe to boldly state that the future of Benue should not be determined by political sentiment alone. It should be determined by evidence, performance, accountability and the aspirations of its people. Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has undertaken interventions that deserve careful assessment, and the case for continuity rests on these efforts which should be consolidated, strengthened and made to deliver even greater results.
Ultimately, the choice before the Benue people is whether the direction of development being pursued offers sufficient promise to justify another opportunity to complete and deepen the work already underway. The answer must be found in the quality of the roads, the stability of the schools, the welfare of workers, the performance of hospitals, the security of communities, the productivity of farms and the viability of industries.
Benue needs development that is visible, institutions that work, workers whose welfare is protected, communities that are secure and an economy that creates opportunities for its people. On these, Alia has no contender… His one term is good and deserves another….
Elijah Terdoo Ikpanor, PhD writes as the Director II in the Directorate of Research, Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council, 2027 Elections.