Enhancing Tranquillity and Excellence in Benue State: The Gov Alia Way
By Bridget Tikyaa
It takes astute leadership to handle divisive issues with tact, compassion and promptness, especially issues that are likely to affect not only the present, but also the future of millions of citizens. It is such leadership that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State displayed recently to halt a potential industrial action by workers of tertiary institutions in the state. It is a response that has been consistent with the administration that is building a new Bureau State, and prioritising the needs of the people first. At all times.
For clarity, tertiary institutions workers, particularly those of <span;>Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, and the College of Health Sciences have been agitating for the payment of some entitlements, which if not paid, could lead to strike action and disruption of academic activities. The governor responded by setting up a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government alongside <span;>the Head of Service and other members. Their report was endorsed by the State Executive Council and approval instantly given for the immediate release of N2.9 billion to clear the entitlements. That is clearly, the imprint of a decisive leader.
As encapsulated by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr Peter Oboh Egbode, “This decision reflects government’s commitment to promoting education as a vital tool for social development and ensuring that our children do not suffer unnecessarily.”
The governor’s decisive intervention in the education sector did not just start. It has been consistent since he stepped in as leader of Benue State in May 2023.
One of the most recent is the merger of the <span;>Bureau for Education Quality Assurance and the defunct Benue State Examinations Board into a single, more robust institution. The harmonisation of the activities of both agencies is enhance coordination, improve efficiency, and strengthen quality education delivery in the state. The governor did not stop there, he appointed a tested and trusted person, <span;>Dr. Terna Francis, KSM, as the pioneer Executive Secretary of the board.
This strategic merger underscores Governor Alia’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the education sector and ensuring that every child in Benue state receives holistic, high-quality, and competitive education comparable to anywhere in the world. Government target is to ensure excellence and a results-driven education system.
For those following the activities of Governor Alia, education has remained consistently a top priority of his administration.
It has taken several steps to improve the education sector, including the recruitment of 9,700 new teachers, renovation and construction of school infrastructure, improving teachers welfare, creating new institutions like the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, and emphasizing quality assurance through new appointments and programmes.
The governor recruited the 9,700 teachers to address manpower shortages and strengthen public education. He has not only prioritised regular and timely payment of teachers’ salaries and pensions, but also instituted a new retirement age for teachers.
The administration has also made conscious efforts to enhance schools infrastructure by launching massive renovation and rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools across all 23 local government areas of the state, initiated the construction of over 20 new storey buildings in schools, and separated the Ministry of Education into two to enhance effectiveness.
Perhaps of equal significance is the recent loan approved by the state House of Assembly specifically intended to finance ongoing infrastructural projects. In tune with his focused and determined efforts to ensure transparency and accountability, payments from the money will not be made directly to government but through the bank to contractors, based on verified certificates of work done. “This will ensure judicious use of the funds and alignment with the government’s development priorities.”
The government has also moved to settle local contractors in the agriculture sector by revisiting the white paper report concerning the Bureau of Agricultural Mechanization. A previous committee had identified genuine contractors for payment over the supply of agricultural inputs, but during implementation, discrepancies were found in the computations.
“Government wants to ensure no contractor is shortchanged, and that no payments are made for jobs not executed,” Dr Egbode said. “Therefore, the white paper is being reviewed to correct any detected errors before disbursement.”
In line with the prioritisation of transparency and accountability, the government has constituted an implementation committee comprising traditional rulers, chairmen of Makurdi and Guma local governments, and representatives of IDP communities with regards to the disbursement of donations made by Nigerians to victims of the attacks on Yelwata and other communities.
The committees are working jointly to identify priority areas for intervention to ensure funds are used effectively and transparently. The state government is also monitoring very closely to prevent misappropriation, and ensure accountability and fairness.
“We want to ensure that all contributions made towards supporting displaced persons are properly utilized for their benefit,” the Information Commissioner said, adding that the “government remains committed to returning these victims to their homes and restoring their livelihoods.”
The state government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centered governance has never been in doubt under Governor Alia, whose desire is to protect the interests of the people God has entrusted to him, ensure impactful interventions that will be evident, transformative, uplifting and enduring. These are no doubt being done across the state with diligence, consistency, transparently and a refreshing drive for excellence and all encompassing development of Benue State.
