Benue finances stronger under Tinubu’s reforms, says Alia

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has credited President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms with boosting the state’s finances, improving security and enabling major investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture.

Speaking during an interactive session with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Alia said increased federal allocations arising from the Federal Government’s economic policies had given his administration the fiscal capacity to execute development projects while meeting inherited financial obligations.

He assured residents that the additional resources accruing to the state would continue to be managed prudently.

“My people should be fully assured that every additional resource accruing to the state will continue to be utilised responsibly and transparently, as we are doing,” the governor said.

Alia said prudent management of public funds had restored public confidence in government, noting that salaries and pensions were now being paid regularly after his administration inherited years of unpaid entitlements.

According to him, workers and pensioners were owed several months’ salaries when he assumed office, while some local government employees had outstanding payments dating back as much as seven years.

He said improved federal allocations, combined with increased internally generated revenue, had enabled the state to clear a substantial portion of the backlog while maintaining prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.

The governor also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, saying the administration had rehabilitated more than 550 kilometres of roads and constructed over 420 kilometres of new roads across the state. He added that schools and other public facilities were also being reconstructed in all 23 local government areas.

On healthcare, Alia said the upgrading of primary and secondary health facilities had significantly improved service delivery, attracting patients from neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“We have become a medical tourism power. If our state were not safe, people would not be coming. The most vulnerable people are the sick, and if they can travel to Benue for treatment, it tells you that security has improved,” he said.