By Attah Ede
May 29 marks one year anniversary of the the Tinubu-led administration at the centre. In most of the states too, Governors have rolled out drums to celebrate their first year in office. Despite the change in the date of celebration, elected officials still consider the period to reflect on their performances and achievements in office within the period.
In the case of Benue State, a catholic priest, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia was sworn in as the fifth democratically elected Governor on May 29th, 2023, where he brought his priestly acumen with the democratic tenet to change the way politics is being played in the State.
It is appropriate to state the fact that Rev. Fr. Alia is making the people take ownership of the politics and the governance process in the state. He has detached himself from those he considered had the tendency to exert undue influence on him to the detriment of his effectiveness in the official discharge of his duties and responsibilities in office.
The Governor under one year, has no doubt taken the path that will forever ensure that his name is written in gold as he is using the instrumentality of government to refocus the critical sectors of the economy that affect the lives of the people.
He has given impetus to the execution of numerous projects in developing a new Benue State within just one year of his administration.
In one year, Rev. Fr. Alia has demonstrated a glowing capacity as a performing Governor who has etched his name in the Hall of fame as his development agenda knows no bound in the State.
His credible leadership strides are strategic for everyone to see across the State. The Alia administration has been impactful in the delivery of infrastructure, thus making him a performer and a leader loved by the people, which has earned him so many awards both nationally and internationally.
The Reverend gentleman on assumption of office rolled-out his administration’s manifesto tagged “seven- point agenda”. The seven-point agenda is a developmental plan to guide the progress towards the Renewed Hope Agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in Nigeria.
The initiation of new projects that are critical to the development of the State, and the putting in place of a robust feedback mechanism towards improving the quality of lives of the people as well as the strengthening of investment in economic and human capital for sustainable development is part of the governor’s policy.
Though faced with myriad of challenges ranging from unpaid salaries and pensions left by the previous administration, herdsmen invasion, over-bloated wage bill and dwindling economy amongst others, the governor has made modest achievements in spite of the daunting challenges.
Consequently, the seven-point agenda is anchored on the security of lives and property; agriculture and rural development; commerce and industry; human capital and social development; infrastructure and environment; information and communications technology; and political and economic governance.
The Governor said that Benue people were waiting for Hope and Renewed hope for that matter and assured that “Benue hope is here”.
One year after assumption of office, it is obvious that the Alia-led administration is making significant progress in its determination to transform the state to greater heights.
The governor’s continued provision of infrastructure, such as roads, security, electricity and other critical facilities that remain the bedrock for attracting investors as well as reducing rural – urban migration, enhancing gender quality and strengthening the public private partnership is what the Alia administration is known for.
In the last twelve months, the provision of the enabling business environment for attracting development partners, domestic and foreign investors as well as maintenance of peace and security have equally taken the center stage of his Government.
His government has been instrumental to changing the life and face of ordinary people particularly civil servants and pensioners through welfarist and visionary programs within the last one year.
His government has also initiated a continuous capacity development scheme for all civil servants in the state. The aim is to enhance productivity and optimal performance.
Since coming on board, the governor has been consistent in the payment of salaries and pensions. Under his administration, every civil servant including teachers and pensioners receive salary and pension as from 23rd – 25th of every month. This singular act has greatly improved the livelihoods of Benue people.The workers have already nicknamed “Mr 25th”in appreciation of the commitment to early payment of salaries and pensions.
Now, retirees receive his or her payment of gratuities at 100% upon retirement within one month, unlike the previous administration that do not care about the plight of workers and the senior citizens.
The governor in the period under review, awarded contracts and mobilised contractors to site for the construction of 16 strategic roads within Makurdi metropolis. Some of the roads have been completed and are already being used by commuters.
He has extended the road construction projects to Katsina-Ala, Gboko, Konshisha, Vandeikya and Otukpo as well as other parts of the State. The aim is to ease the movement of people, goods, and services to facilitate social and economic growth.
Only recently, the governor announced that his administration would award contracts for the construction of 50 roads across the state to be completed in the next 12 months.
Again, his administration has commenced construction of underpasses at high level area in the state capital Makurdi and in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of Tiv nation.
On the day of his birthday celebration, May 18, the governor equally announced that his government would soon commence construction of similar flyover in Otukpo, the headquarters of the Benue south senatorial district of the State.
To provide a befitting environment that will attract positive outcome in terms of providing quality legislature, the governor awarded contract for the reconstruction and modernization of the Benue State House of Assembly Complex with modern facilities, alongside the assembly Clinic with state-of-the-art amenities to ensure quality healthcare for the lawmakers and the assembly staff.
Furthermore, in the education sector, as a catalyst for development of the State, Rev Father Hyacinth Alia embarked on major reforms, which have led to the improvement of teaching and learning.
In a bid to strengthen the educational system in the State, he created a new office called Bureau of State Quality Assurance Agency in addition to the already existing State Ministry of Education. The agency is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out strict supervision and monitoring of schools to ensure total commitment to quality and excellence standard of education in the State.
To make public schools more attractive and reduce the burden from parents and guardians in line with his policy thrust, Governor Alia paid for examination fees for all students in government-approved public secondary schools in the state sitting for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations, respectively.
This is beside the reopening of the School of Nursing, Makurdi, which was earlier shut down by the previous administration and affiliated to the Benue State University for the award of degrees in Nursing. The administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia saw the need to have a nursing institution that affords people of the State the opportunity to obtain diploma and other certificate courses, hence his decision to reopen the school.
He had also reawakened the reintroduction of the Medical Bond Scheme for medical students of the School of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, by approving monthly stipends of about N150,000 per student.
His administration also approved the payment of N100,000 monthly allowances for each Doctor-Corps member serving in Benue State, as well as increasing the monthly allowances of all other corps members posted to the state by N15,000 monthly.
Under his administration there has been massive engagement of the teeming youth in meaningful ventures and creating employment for them. For instance, 10,000 Benue youths are currently being sponsored by government to undergo training on ICT in collaboration with tech giants Google and Microsoft. This is a deliberate efforts to make them become self-reliant.
In a bid to boost entrepreneurship and alleviate poverty in the state, Alia administration established the Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation Bureau, as well as the Benue State International Cooperation and Development Bureau.
It is on that strength that his government concluded plan to hold an economic summit in partnership with some foreign investors, particularly the Chinese investors by November 2024, with a view to establish an economic city that could attract at least 50 companies to boost various market activities for industrialisation to thrive in the state and create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the State.
Alia succeeded in lobbying the FG to successfully launched the Expanded National MSME Clinic in the State, marking the first stop on a nationwide journey to empower small and medium sized businesses.
During the launch of the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Makurdi, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced ambitious plans to support MSMEs nationwide. The event showcased the government’s dedication to fostering a thriving MSME ecosystem and emphasized the importance of these businesses in job creation and economic development.
Furthermore, Governor Alia’s robust engagements with authorities in the seat of power in Abuja has led to the FG’s presence in the state, providing regular interventions through humanitarian services by donor organizations, to alleviate the suffering of IDPs and assist security operations.
His administration has initiated so many plans with relevant stakeholders in emergency management to ensure the resettlement of IDPs and make them to their respective ancestral homes.
Under Governor Alia, a landmark was achieved by his administration with the construction of Housing Estate for high and low income earners in the State by Benue Investment and Property Company(BIPC) . It will be a master piece when completed.
Similarly, a transport scheme for inter-city routes at subsidized price is another plus for the Alia administration. Towards this end, the governor procured 100 buses for the State -owned transport outfit-Benue Links Limited.
At the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Fr. Alia installed solar power and provided 33 kVA for constant electricity supply.
He immediately opened the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital for service to boost healthcare delivery in the state. The MBMCH was built, equipped by FG and donated to the State government with the aim of reducing the maternal mortality rate and offering prompt and almost free services to women and children below the age of 5 but was abandoned by the previous administration.
Alia was the first governor in Nigeria to implement the Revised Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) 2023 for resident doctors at the revised rate and reintroduced the Medical Bond Scheme for medical students of the School of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, by approving monthly stipends of about N150,000 per student.
