FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue State Government has announced significant resolutions aimed at strengthening the education sector, enhancing infrastructural development, and improving oversight on critical state interventions.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday at Government House Makurdi, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Peter Oboh Egbodo, disclosed that the State Executive Council (SEC), chaired by Governor Hyacinth Alia, has approved over ₦2.9 billion for the payment of allowances owed to staff of the Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, and the College of Health Sciences.
According to Dr. Egbodo, the approval followed recent agitations over unpaid entitlements which threatened to disrupt academic activities through strike action. To avert this, a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, alongside the Head of Service and relevant members, engaged key stakeholders and submitted recommendations subsequently approved by Council.
“This decision reflects government’s commitment to promoting education as a vital tool for social development and ensuring our children do not suffer unnecessarily,” he stated.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Benue State House of Assembly has passed a bill merging the Bureau for Quality Assurance with the Education Board, which has now been assented to by the Governor. The law aims to harmonize operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen quality education delivery statewide.
Addressing public concerns about a recently approved loan, Dr. Egbodo clarified that no loan—foreign or local—had been obtained by the current administration until the recent request sanctioned by the House of Assembly. The facility, he noted, is targeted purely at financing ongoing infrastructural projects.
Under the arrangement, payments will not be made directly to the government, but through the bank to contractors based on verified certificates of completion. This, he said, ensures transparency and alignment with government priorities.
On agriculture, the Commissioner disclosed that government is currently reviewing the white paper report on the Bureau of Agricultural Mechanization. While a previous committee identified genuine contractors for payment, discrepancies were later observed in computations.
“Government wants to ensure no contractor is shortchanged, and that no payments are made for jobs not executed,” he stressed.
Responding to public concerns on funds donated for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yelwata and other settlements, Dr. Egbodo confirmed the constitution of an implementation committee comprising traditional rulers, chairmen of Makurdi and Guma LGAs, and representatives of IDP communities. The committee is tasked with identifying priority needs and ensuring judicious application of resources.
He reassured residents that the government is monitoring the process closely to safeguard accountability and prevent diversion of relief funds.
Closing the briefing, Dr. Egbodo urged the public to disregard false narratives aimed at discrediting government initiatives and reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centered governance.
“At the end of the day, when you see the impact of these interventions, it will be clear that information being peddled by detractors is not based on truth. The government is working tirelessly to uplift the lives of its citizens,” he concluded.
Signed:
Irene Iveren Onehi
Head of Centre
Federal Information Centre, Makurdi
