Former appointees of immediate past Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, have challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to provide a detailed account of more than ₦1.2 trillion allegedly received by the state since he assumed office in May 2023.
The group, under the banner of former appointees of the Ortom administration, made the demand in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Adzer Abya, and Secretary, Joseph Odaudu, while reacting to the third anniversary of Governor Alia's administration.
The former officials accused the Alia administration of engaging in what they described as a sustained campaign of falsehoods and propaganda against Chief Ortom rather than presenting a comprehensive account of its stewardship after three years in office.
According to the group, claims by Governor Alia and his aides that Ortom left behind four years of unpaid salaries, seven months of pensions and gratuities, and achieved little during his eight-year tenure are "false, reckless and deliberately misleading."
They argued that Ortom governed during one of the most challenging periods in the state's history, citing economic recessions, declining oil revenues, the COVID-19 pandemic and persistent attacks by armed herdsmen.
The group maintained that despite these challenges, the Ortom administration paid 91 out of 96 months of salaries and substantially reduced inherited pension and gratuity liabilities. They further highlighted achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure and institutional reforms, including the establishment of the Benue Geographic Information Service (BENGIS), upgrades at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, and the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
Turning attention to the current administration, the former appointees expressed concern over what they described as worsening insecurity, increasing displacement of residents and the absence of transparency in the management of public funds.
They claimed that between May 2023 and May 2026, Benue State received approximately ₦762.9 billion in FAAC allocations, while the state's 23 local governments received about ₦527.7 billion. They also cited internally generated revenue of about ₦79 billion, foreign interventions, donations and a ₦100 billion domestic loan obtained in October 2025.
According to them, the combined inflows amount to more than ₦1.2 trillion, raising questions about the utilization of the funds.
"Benue people deserve to know what has happened to the huge volume of money received by the government," the group stated.
The former officials also questioned reports that the Alia administration is seeking approval for an additional ₦250 billion loan despite the substantial revenues received over the past three years.
They called on the governor to disclose details of all revenues, allocations, loans, grants and donations received by the state, including funds donated for victims of attacks and internally displaced persons.
The group further demanded details of deductions allegedly made from local government allocations for humanitarian interventions, the state's current wage bill, expenditure on major projects, and the administration's security strategy for returning displaced persons to their communities.
Insisting that the era of blaming previous administrations should be over, the former appointees said Governor Alia should focus on providing answers regarding governance, security and development.
"The people deserve accountability, transparency, security and development. The time for excuses is over. The time for accountability is now," the statement concluded.
The Benue State Government has yet to officially respond to the allegations and demands contained in the statement.
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