Prior to the 2023 elections, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Fr Hyacinth Alia, embarked on an extensive media tour, visiting numerous radio and television stations, including those here in Abuja. During his campaign, he made a pledge to establish a transparent government, where the people would have access to detailed information regarding the government’s income and expenditures. This promise resonated with the public, and they entrusted him with their mandate.
Fast forward to the present, Fr. Alia is now serving as the governor. He has received substantial funds from federal allocations, which have significantly increased due to the removal of fuel subsidies by the Tinubu administration. Just recently, the Federal Government and the 36 states collectively received N966 billion. However, the amount allocated to Benue State remains undisclosed, as Governor Alia has yet to make any public statement on the matter. Similarly, in the month of July, the Federal Government and states shared N907.05 billion, but the specific allocation for Benue State remains unknown.
Since May 2023, the Benue State government, led by Governor Alia, has received a considerable sum of at least N70 billion, which includes N5 billion meant for palliatives. However, Governor Alia has chosen to remain silent regarding the exact amount received from federal allocations. Furthermore, he has not disclosed the figures pertaining to Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue or the internally generated revenue (IGR) acquired by his administration. This lack of transparency has left the people in the dark, unsure of what is transpiring within the government.
Governor Alia has yet to establish a cabinet and has assumed sole administration of the government. Personal bank withdrawals have become the norm, while all government accounts were abruptly closed on the day of his inauguration. Consequently, this freezing of accounts has caused severe disruptions to the operations of government ministries and agencies.
The question remains: Where is the transparency that Governor Alia promised?
These questions are beginning for answers:
How much has the Benue State Government so far received from federal allocations since May 2023?
How much has the government so far received from VAT?
How much has the state government so far realized from IGR?
The governor or his spokespersons should answer the above questions for us to understand his definition of transparency.
Written by Dr. Peter Awunah
