By Amos Aar
BENUE State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has debunked allegations by the president, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Fetus Osifo, that he has refused to utilise wage award and palliative funds released to him by the federal government to cushion the current economic hardship.
In a statement through his spokesman, Tersoo Kula, on Friday, Alia described the TUC president’s claims as “malicious, spurious, misleading, disparaging and capable of causing avoidable tension in the polity.
According to the governor, every state governor was at liberty to use the palliative funds in any way they chose to cushion their people’s suffering, stating further that in Benue State, he acquired one hundred buses, registered WAEC for government secondary school students, among other expenses.
“To set the record straight and guide Mr. Festus towards truth-telling, the palliatives meant for the state were judiciously put to use by His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia. This was achieved through the purchase of 100 buses for the state-owned transport company to ease transportation expenses for the masses. Additionally, the Governor sourced funds and used the same for payment of WAEC and NECO registration fees for students in public schools.
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“Let it be known that the purchase of the 100 Hummer buses alone cost the state more than the ₦2bn sent to the state for subsidy removal palliative. Transportation in the state has drastically reduced, such that routes that the fare was above ₦2,000 is now down to ₦1,000.
“These initiatives, among others, explain how the palliatives sent to the state were effectively utilized.
“Contrary to Mr. Festus Osifo’s claims, it is evident, even to the blind, that Benue workers have witnessed positive changes since Governor Alia took office, and they are indeed content.
“It is worth mentioning here that the palliatives were given to states to be used at the discretion of the state governors to address the top challenges in their respective states. While some state governors used the funds to add small tokens of 10 thousand naira each to their workers’ salaries for a few months, others, like Gov. Alia, invested the money in easing transportation expenses for both workers and other citizens of the state.
“Moreover, without prompting, Gov. Alia decided to constitute a committee on minimum wage. All labour unions, including the TUC, have representatives on that committee. The Governor is willing to implement the recommendations of this committee for the betterment of the workers of the state.
“Perhaps Osifo is yet to be properly briefed, Benue workers are happy with their Governor in all ramifications. They recently, in the Congress meeting at the state secretariat, passed a vote of confidence on the governor and pledged their unalloyed loyalty.
“As a leader, Mr. Osifo should do better to always cross-check facts before going to press. As a leader, such uninformed disparaging comments may mislead the public and create avoidable tension in the polity”, part of the statement read.
