PDP Calls on Benue State Governor to Account for N44 Billion Federal Intervention Grants
By Matthew Eloyi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has demanded accountability from the State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, regarding the utilization of N44 billion in special intervention grants received from the Federal Government between August 2023 and 2024.
According to the opposition party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, the call comes in response to assertions made by the leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Tilley Gyado, during APC stakeholders meeting in Makurdi on Sunday.
Gyado claimed that N44 billion in intervention funds had accrued to the state over the past nine months, including N5 billion post-subsidy removal, N9 billion infrastructural funds, and N30 billion sub-national intervention funds.
However, the state government and other sources have refuted the claim of receiving N30 billion as alleged by Senate President, Senator Godwin Akpabio.
State Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Michael Oglegba, denied the receipt of the N30 billion intervention fund but acknowledged some interventions from the Federal Government in a recent interview.
The PDP described Gyado’s statement as “shocking,” emphasizing that Governor Alia had not disclosed the receipt of such funds, except for the post-subsidy removal (palliatives) fund, of which only part of the N5 billion was acknowledged after pressure from the PDP.
The party expressed concern over the lack of transparency and accountability in the governor’s administration, urging him to reveal how the N44 billion special grants were spent to dispel suspicions surrounding his governance. Failure to do so, the PDP warned, would further deepen suspicions of non-disclosure and disregard for due process.