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A major political storm is brewing in Benue State as members of the State House of Assembly accuse Governor Hyacinth Alia of reneging on an agreement to share proceeds from a ₦100 billion loan they approved for his administration.
According to multiple lawmakers who spoke anonymously and publicly through proxies, the bone of contention is simple: before the loan was passed, Governor Alia allegedly agreed to give each of the 30 members of the House (excluding the Speaker) ₦50 million as their “share” of the facility. This, they claim, was in line with what they describe as an “established tradition” in the state where lawmakers receive either 10% or at least 5% of any loan they approve for the executive.
The lawmakers say the governor flatly rejected the 10% demand and even pushed back against 5%, but eventually settled on ₦50 million per member as a compromise. With the loan now approved and funds reportedly being accessed, the governor has allegedly refused to release the money, leaving the legislators furious and feeling “treated like fools.”
The situation has escalated to the point where the lawmaker who nominated Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga as Speaker of the 10th Assembly has publicly expressed regret over the decision. In a widely circulated statement, the unnamed legislator reportedly said he now regrets nominating “the idiot” for Speaker, blaming Emberga’s leadership style for failing to extract firm commitments from the governor before the loan was passed.
Some members are now threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings against Speaker Berger if he fails to force Governor Alia’s hand and ensure the promised funds are released.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Governor’s media team nor the Speaker has issued an official response to the allegations. However, sources within Government House insist that no such agreement ever existed and that the governor remains focused on delivering infrastructure and salary payments rather than “settling” lawmakers.
The development has sparked intense debate online and among political observers in the state, with many questioning the legality and morality of lawmakers demanding direct cash from loans meant for development projects. Others argue that such arrangements, however informal, have become an open secret in many state assemblies across Nigeria.
Whether this crisis will lead to a full-blown showdown between the executive and legislature in Benue remains to be seen, but for now, the 10th Assembly appears deeply divided and trust between the governor and the lawmakers has hit rock bottom.
More details as the story develops.
