‘Enemies at work’ — Alia denies claim 13% of 2024 budget is for governor’s office

Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, has debunked the allegation that 13.11 percent of the state’s 2024 budget was allocated to the governor’s office.

Alia spoke on Thursday during a media conference held at the government house in Makurdi, the state capital.

The governor who was represented by Tersoo Kula, his chief press secretary,  said people peddling the allegation are enemies of the state.

“Some people are not interested in the development in this state. They are very sad at the moment. They hate to see anything good happen here,” he said.

“They are enemies of the state who fabricate stories and sponsor some ready mischievous youth to propagate on the cyberspace with a clear intention to generate hatred for the administration.”

The governor said people are confusing the government house administration as the same as the governor’s office, adding that in the 2024 budget, the governor’s office takes N5.2 billion representing 2.3 percent of the budget.

Reacting to the allegation of a bogus underpass project, he said “the contract of the underpass met all the required procurement details, before it was approved and awarded to Bauhaus Global Investment Nigeria Limited on 23rd December 2023”.

He said the contract was awarded at the sum of N6 billion and not N44 billion as claimed, adding that the allegation is “laughable”.

He said the current administration has proposed three projects which include a high-level underpass, flyover projects at Wurkukum roundabout and Gyado junction in Gboko.

The governor clarified the issue raised by the Benue state national assembly caucus, claiming that the incessant attacks in the state are linked to the dissolution of LG councils.

He said the government is investigating a letter allegedly sent to the herdsmen to return and occupy some parts of the state, adding that the anti-grazing law is still in force.