Benue PDP Challenges Alia To Explain Wike’s ₦30bn Monthly FAAC Disclosure

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to explain his administration’s silence following the disclosure by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the state receives as much as ₦30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, made the demand in a statement, urging Alia to publicly clarify the figures and publish the state’s revenue and expenditure records since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

The opposition party also called on the governor to provide verifiable details of projects funded by the state government, the amounts spent and their completion status.

It further demanded explanations of security expenditure and the results achieved, while urging all 23 local government councils in the state to publicly account for their respective allocations.

The statement described Wike’s disclosure as a weighty claim that required a clear response from the Benue State Government.

“This is a weighty statement from a serving federal minister. Why has the Benue State Government failed to offer a clear public response to Chief Wike’s disclosure? Does the governor dispute the figures? If he does, why has he not come forward with the actual figures? If he agrees with the minister, why has he not considered it necessary to explain to the people what his administration has done with the enormous resources available to Benue State, following the removal of fuel subsidy?” the PDP asked.

The party alleged that since taking office on May 29, 2023, Alia had not delivered a comprehensive public accountability briefing covering the revenues received, expenditure incurred, projects executed and results achieved by his administration.

It added, “Three and a half years in office, the people are still waiting for a transparent and detailed account of how public resources are being managed.”

The PDP further claimed that its assessment put the combined FAAC allocations to the state government and its 23 local government areas at more than ₦1.3 trillion during the period under review.

“Both tiers of government under the firm grip of Governor Alia owe Benue people accountability.

“The questions are simple: How much has come in, how much has been spent, and what can the government show for it?” the statement added.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State challenged the PDP to account for the financial record of the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom before criticising Alia over the state’s revenue and expenditure.

The APC State Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yawe, made the counter-demand in a statement, arguing that the opposition party should address questions about its own record in government.

“The PDP governed Benue State for more than two decades, including eight years under Ortom. However, its record during that period continues to attract questions about public finance, workers’ welfare, infrastructure and the management of government-owned assets,” the APC stated.

The exchange comes amid calls by the opposition for greater transparency in the management of public funds in Benue State, with the PDP demanding a detailed account of revenue and expenditure under Alia and the APC urging its critics to explain the record of the previous administration.