- Says Some Public Officials Waiting to Swallow Money in Govt Treasury
By Amos Aar
BENUE State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said that the state government’s frozen bank accounts on his directives following his inauguration on May 29, 2023 cannot be unfrozen anytime soon.
Even now as I speak, there are hyenas and hawks waiting for anything to drop into those accounts so that they will take them out. So, it’s not yet time for the unfreezing to be done”, he stated.
Governor Alia, who made this disclosure Saturday while fielding questions from journalists during his first breakfast parley with journalists and heads of media organisations in the state at Government House, Makurdi, said some people were still waiting eagerly to swallow any money that would enter into the treasury of the government even as he announced during his inauguration that signatories to the state accounts would be changed.
He said it may even take a whole year before the accounts will be unfrozen, adding that it is more prudent for government’s funds to be centralised at Government House so that there will be control without mismanagement and embezzlement.
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“Even now as I speak, there are hyenas and hawks waiting for anything to drop into those accounts so that they will take them out. So, it’s not yet time for the unfreezing to be done”, he stated.
Alia stressed that he would continue to watch each ministry, agency and parastatal closely until the forensic audit is completed and the accounts secured before he will open them.
“Until I invite you to take a peep into what I’m looking at, you will be so amazed and surprised. In fact, you will ask me to close the accounts until next year.
“But while the freeze is still on, it is very vital that if every ministry, agency or parastatal has a need, they will bring it to the appropriate quarters at the Government House and it is treated”, the governor maintained.
On Commissioner-nominees
On the much awaited names of commissioner nominees now that the statutory 60 days for governors to constitute their cabinets have elapsed, Alia reiterated that he forwarded the list of commissioner-nominees to the State House of Assembly before the House went on recess and it was left for them to decide when to start the screening because he cannot do the job of the legislature, not even to pre-empt them by mentioning nominees’ names.
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“About the state Exco formation, remember, we were given 60 days to submit the formation names and I fulfilled my constitutional right to do that. A letter was given and list was also made. It is left for the Assembly to announce when they want to do the screening.
“They have actually given me a date when they will want to do that. But I cannot do their work for them. If I announce it here, some of you may even ask why the Assembly is not talking. But they have the list and they are on recess now.
“The latest information I got is that they are coming back to screen the nominees and possibly give them back to us”, Fr. Alia hinted, as he further clarified that he had no crisis with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who is an indigene of Benue State.
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National Record could recall that some people alleged that the delay in the appointment of commissioners was due to a rift between Governor Alia and his perceived political godfather, George Akume, over the nomination of those who will make up the cabinet.
But the governor informed journalists that his relationship with the SGF was without any crisis, saying “he is my leader, he is APC leader and I respect that hundred percent.
“When people create, or make or present their perceived perspective of crisis, they cash in on it. So, when there is no crisis, they want crisis to be created because they are starved. But as far as I’m concerned, saboteurs will continue to be starved because there’s no crisis”.
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Alia also disclosed that Benue State could have held a welcome home ceremony for the SGF since he assumed office. But the entire North Central state including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) wanted to be party to it and that that is why it is taking time.
He said plans have been worked out for him to welcome Senator Akume home as an elder statesman, and as a personality who is the head of the entire North Central representing the 6 states including the FCT.
“That’s the highest-ranking man who is serving not just for Benue, he is for the entire North Central and I feel that we should rather be celebrating rather than make some insinuations and try to cause crisis where crisis does not exist”, Alia advised.
The governor, who promised to be briefing journalists on a quarterly basis about the achievements and activities of his administration, said within three months of his inauguration into office, he has purged the state’s payroll of 2,500 ghost workers and has saved N1.2 billion in the first phase of the screening exercise.
According to the governor, renovation work was ongoing on the Benue State House of Assembly Complex and the state secretariat simultaneously, adding that some township roads within Makurdi metropolis have been earmarked for rehabilitation.
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The governor also announced that administration was providing relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) while efforts were being made to return them to their ancestral homes safely.
He has also paid workers salaries and increased the allowances of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and medical doctors serving in Benue State.
Governor Alia appealed to journalists to be unbiased and objective in their reportage and avoid being used as vehicles for propaganda.
In their remarks, Vice president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists for Zone D, Comrade Chris Atsaka, News Manager at Brothers FM, Makurdi, Mr Elaigwu Abutu, who spoke on behalf of heads of media organisations in the state requested the governor to revitalise state owned media outfits especially Radio Benue, Makurdi, which Abutu said some times the station is not on air for complete 24 hours.
