Three Years of Alia: Former Gov Ortom Appointees Demand Accountability, Reject Claims Against Ex-Governor

By Our Correspondent, Makurdi

Former appointees of immediate past Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, have challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to provide a detailed account of its stewardship over the past three years, while rejecting what they described as persistent attempts to discredit the former governor through “falsehood and propaganda.”

In a statement jointly signed by the Coordinator, Hon. Adzer Abya (PhD), and Secretary, Hon. Joseph Odaudu, on behalf of former appointees of the Ortom administration, the group said Benue people expected Governor Alia’s third anniversary in office to be marked by a comprehensive report on achievements, fiscal management and policy outcomes.

Instead, they alleged that the governor and members of his administration had continued to focus on criticism of their predecessor rather than addressing pressing governance issues.

The former appointees specifically faulted claims by the Alia administration that Chief Ortom left behind four years of unpaid salaries, seven months of pensions and gratuities, and achieved little during his eight-year tenure.

According to the group, such claims are “false, reckless and deliberately misleading.

They argued that Ortom governed during one of the most challenging periods in Nigeria’s economic history, marked by two economic recessions, falling crude oil prices, declining federal allocations, the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating insecurity arising from armed herdsmen attacks.

The statement noted that despite these challenges, the Ortom administration paid 91 out of 96 months of salaries during its tenure and inherited outstanding salary, pension and gratuity liabilities estimated at ₦72 billion, alongside contractual obligations exceeding ₦90 billion.

The group further stated that the administration paid about ₦42 billion towards pension and gratuity arrears and contributed more than ₦8 billion under the Contributory Pension Scheme, which it said laid the foundation for addressing long-term pension challenges in the state.

Highlighting achievements recorded under the former governor, the ex-appointees cited the execution of over 1,000 primary school projects across the state’s 23 local government areas, renovation of secondary schools, and the provision of desks and chairs to improve learning conditions.

They also pointed to improvements at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, including the installation of MRI and dialysis machines, rehabilitation of medical facilities, and the graduation of medical doctors after years of delay.I

Other achievements listed included road construction projects across the three senatorial districts, the establishment of the Benue Geographic Information Service (BENGIS), and the construction of palaces for the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma.

The group particularly defended Ortom’s enactment and enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017, describing it as one of the boldest policy decisions in the state’s history.

They said the former governor demonstrated courage in prioritising the protection of Benue communities despite political pressures.

Turning attention to the current administration, the former appointees expressed concern over what they described as worsening insecurity, increasing displacement of residents and the continued existence of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps three years after Governor Alia assumed office.

They recalled that the governor had promised the return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes within his first 100 days in office but noted that many communities remain displaced, while new camps have reportedly emerged.

The group also questioned the management of public finances under the Alia administration, alleging that Benue State has received unprecedented revenues since May 2023.

According to the statement, the state government received approximately ₦762.9 billion through Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements between May 2023 and May 2026, while the 23 local government councils collectively received about ₦527.7 billion.

They added that the state generated approximately ₦79 billion in internally generated revenue and also benefited from foreign interventions, development partnerships, donations and a ₦100 billion domestic loan secured in October 2025.

The former appointees claimed that total inflows available to the state during the period exceeded ₦1.2 trillion.

They questioned what they described as the absence of visible development across much of the state despite the huge revenues, citing poor road infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, abandoned schools and the continued displacement of thousands of residents.

The group also criticised reports that the state government is seeking legislative approval for an additional ₦250 billion loan, arguing that citizens deserve a full explanation regarding the purpose, repayment terms and expected benefits of the proposed borrowing.

They further expressed concern over the utilisation of donations and intervention funds reportedly received from the Federal Government, international organisations and other donors for victims of attacks and internally displaced persons.

The statement also raised questions over deductions allegedly made from local government allocations for humanitarian interventions, calling for greater transparency in the management of such funds.

Consequently, the former appointees demanded that the Alia administration provide a comprehensive account of revenues received since May 2023, details of FAAC allocations to the state and local governments, expenditure records, the current wage bill, loans obtained, foreign grants and donations received, as well as details of all humanitarian intervention funds.

They also called for full disclosure of the proposed ₦250 billion loan, procurement processes for major projects, and a clear security strategy for returning displaced persons to their ancestral communities.

The group maintained that Governor Alia, having completed three years in office, should focus on governance and accountability rather than attributing current challenges to the previous administration.7

“Benue people deserve answers, accountability, transparency, security and development,” the statement said.

It added that while Chief Samuel Ortom’s record remains open to public scrutiny, the current administration must equally account for the resources available to it and demonstrate how they have been utilised for the benefit of the people.

The statement concluded that the time had come for greater transparency and accountability in governance, insisting that Benue citizens deserve a clear explanation of how public resources have been managed over the past three years.