The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of reneging on his campaign promises, alleging that his administration has undermined local government autonomy while belatedly assembling a critical economic advisory structure nearly three years into office.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its State Publicity Secretary, Yima Antyo, the opposition party said it was “astonished” by recent policy decisions of the Alia administration, which it claimed reveal a widening gap between pre-election commitments and governance realities.
The PDP faulted the creation of a Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, describing it as a contradiction of the governor’s pledge to grant full autonomy to the 23 local government councils in the state.
“Rather than freeing the councils from state control, the governor has tightened his grip by erecting additional bureaucratic layers,” the party stated, adding that the move imposes further financial burden on taxpayers while weakening grassroots governance.
According to the PDP, the existence of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs makes the new ministry unnecessary, arguing that genuine commitment to autonomy would have entailed dismantling structures that inhibit council independence.
The party further alleged that nearly four years into the administration, local governments in Benue have been reduced to “ceremonial institutions,” with little evidence of independent development initiatives despite statutory allocations.
It also referenced the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the 774 local government councils nationwide, noting that the ruling declared it unconstitutional for state governments to control council funds.
The PDP accused the Alia administration of failing to comply with the judgment, despite directives from President Bola Tinubu for its implementation.
The statement claimed that local government chairmen in the state operate under pressure, including alleged threats of removal and anti-corruption scrutiny, should they challenge the existing financial arrangements.
On the economic front, the PDP criticised the recent inauguration of an Economic and Policy Advisory Team, describing it as “grossly belated” and indicative of policy disarray.
“An economic advisory team is one of the first structures a serious government establishes upon assumption of office. It is not a ceremonial body to be unveiled at the twilight of an administration,” the party said.
The PDP questioned who had been guiding the state’s fiscal decisions since May 2023, particularly in light of what it described as significant borrowing, including a N100 billion loan secured in October last year.
It argued that the late constitution of the advisory team suggests that the administration had operated without a coherent economic framework, likening the situation to “assembling the cockpit after flying the aircraft for three years.”
The opposition party linked the alleged policy inconsistencies to broader governance challenges in the state, including insecurity, declining investor confidence, economic hardship, and stalled development across most local government areas.
It maintained that despite increased federal allocations to states since 2023, the Alia administration has failed to address salary arrears, pensions and gratuities, while leaving many communities without basic infrastructure.
The PDP called on the governor to provide a comprehensive account of his stewardship, including detailed disclosures of revenues, borrowings and expenditures.
“Accountability is not optional in a democracy; it is a constitutional obligation,” the statement read. “If there is nothing to hide, there should be no hesitation in opening the books for public scrutiny.”
The party urged the governor to explain the delay in constituting the economic advisory team and to clarify his administration’s position on local government autonomy, which it described as a cornerstone of his 2023 campaign promises.
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