Governor Hyacinth Alia addressed speculations of a crisis between himself and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, during his media interaction with journalists at the Government House in Makurdi.
He clarified that there were no issues or conflicts between him and the SGF, affirming that Senator Akume is his leader and also the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North Central region. The Governor stated that some people were creating perceived crises where none existed.
Regarding the leadership of the State Assembly, Governor Alia expressed surprise at accusations that he personally selected the leadership. He emphasized his background as a Catholic Priest, which instills a sense of trustworthiness.
Since assuming office, Governor Alia has prioritized the renovation of critical infrastructure such as the State House of Assembly and the State Secretariat, both of which were in poor condition. The State Secretariat had been constructed during the administration of late Governor Aper Aku between 1979-1983.
The Governor’s administration conducted a staff verification and payroll audit for teachers and local government staff, revealing 2,500 ghost workers and leading to savings of N1.2 billion for the State.
Governor Alia has also been committed to peace-building and the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the State. He took swift action against illegal mining and multiple taxation to foster an efficient and effective business environment.
Upon taking office, Governor Alia promptly froze all State accounts to prevent attempts to short-change the State. Some of these accounts remain frozen as they are yet to be thoroughly reviewed.
