April 02, (THEWILL) — Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has vowed to clear the three-year backlog of pension arrears inherited from his predecessor within the next two months.
The governor stated that the move is aimed at giving retired civil servants in the state a sense of belonging and dignity after years of neglect.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Zonal and Local Government Coordinators at the IBB Square in Makurdi on Wednesday, Alia described the treatment of retirees by the previous administration as inhuman.
He stated that it is inhuman to treat senior citizens with disdain as they have served the state diligently and deserve their entitlements without delay.
Governor Alia, who has been nicknamed Mr. Construction by residents, noted that the people of Benue are calling for the sustainability of his administration’s strides in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and massive infrastructural development.
He declared that the state has moved past its days of stagnation, saying that Benue must move forward and cannot afford to return to Egypt.
The governor attributed the success of his administration to the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He specifically thanked the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her consistent interventions, particularly her donations to Internally Displaced Persons in Benue.
Alia also congratulated the Dr. Benjamin Omale-led State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress on their emergence, signaling a unified front for the party.
The governor charged the newly inaugurated ambassadors to take the message of the achievements of the party to the grassroots. He expressed confidence that the party would sweep all elective positions in the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, the APC State Chairman, Dr. Benjamin Omale, commended Governor Alia for his courage in ensuring successful party congresses at all levels.
He noted that Benue people are united and ready to vote for President Tinubu again, adding that the scorecard of the governor speaks volumes ahead of the 2027 elections.
The chairman also led a moment of silence for party members who lost their lives in a recent road accident while traveling to Lafia for the zonal congresses.
