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Join for News Updates ✕Benue Pension Crisis: ATD Questions ₦67bn Unspent Funds Amid ₦65.55bn Retirees’ Debt
Tags: Benue State pension crisis, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State
The Alliance for Truth and Democracy (ATD) has questioned the financial priorities of the Benue State Government following reports that about ₦67.04 billion remained unspent by the second quarter of 2026, while pension and gratuity liabilities were estimated at ₦65.55 billion.
The group, led by its President, Jerome Zoho, said the figures contained in fiscal documents cited by the organisation demanded a clear explanation from Governor Hyacinth Alia.
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ATD said the state’s financial position had improved significantly since the removal of the fuel subsidy, with states receiving increased allocations and revenues.
According to the organisation, Benue’s earned resources rose substantially over the period under review.
The group put the state’s resources at approximately ₦151.15 billion in 2023, ₦357.53 billion in 2024, ₦528.10 billion in 2025 and ₦232.56 billion by Q2 2026.
Combined, the figures amount to more than ₦1.112 trillion.
ATD said the reported figures raised a fundamental question: why would a state with an estimated ₦67.04 billion unspent balance still have pension and gratuity arrears of about ₦65.55 billion?
The organisation, however, acknowledged that the existence of an unspent balance in a fiscal report does not necessarily mean that the entire amount was immediately available as cash for unrestricted spending.
It consequently urged the government to clarify the nature of the reported balance, including whether the funds were committed, earmarked, restricted or actually available in government accounts.
The group said such clarification was necessary to avoid misunderstanding of the financial records.
ATD also maintained that the payment of current pensions should not be presented as equivalent to clearing historical pension and gratuity debts.
It called on the Alia administration to disclose the amount paid toward accumulated pension and gratuity arrears since May 2023.
The organisation further requested details of the state’s revenues, expenditures and outstanding liabilities.
According to ATD, retired workers should not be left waiting indefinitely for gratuities and other benefits earned during their years of public service.
The group urged Governor Alia to make the relevant financial records available to the public.