Advertise to our over 10,000 daily Benue viewers HERE.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has strongly criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration over the ongoing wave of industrial actions crippling the state, demanding a comprehensive account of public funds exceeding one trillion naira allegedly received by the government in the last three years.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and signed by the PDP State Secretary, Comr. Dan Nyikwagh, the party expressed grave concern over the worsening governance crisis, citing the indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, and the strike action by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Benue State Chapter.
The PDP highlighted the dire situation affecting lecturers, students, local government workers, and pensioners, describing it as a monumental failure by the Alia administration despite massive financial inflows from the Federation Account, internally generated revenue, grants, and loans following the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023.
“It is strange that an administration swimming in record revenues has become synonymous with unpaid salaries, labour unrest, and economic hardship,” the statement read. The party questioned the abandonment of the First Line Charge policy that existed under the previous Ortom-led PDP administration, which had ensured stable funding for the university and protected academic activities.
The PDP further demanded immediate engagement with labour unions, payment of outstanding salary arrears, settlement of pensions and gratuities, restoration of sustainable funding mechanisms for state institutions, and a public explanation on the expenditure of the vast resources available to the government.
The party also referenced the recent Governance Performance Index (GPI) released by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), which ranked Benue State at the bottom among states in the federation, describing the situation as embarrassing and at variance with the administration’s media propaganda.
As workers continue their protests and students remain locked out of classrooms, the PDP urged Governor Alia to move beyond what it called “cosmetic governance of media propaganda and self-glorification” and address the real issues confronting the people of Benue State.
