PDP tackles Alia over LG attendance register, salary threat

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

MAKURDI — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has criticised the state government’s directive requiring the 23 Local Government Councils to maintain daily attendance registers, describing the measure as an attempt to interfere with local government autonomy.

The party also faulted a provision in the directive stating that only local government workers who attain a minimum of 25 days’ punctual attendance would be eligible for payment of their monthly salaries.

The directive was contained in a letter reportedly issued by the Benue State Local Government Service Commission and signed by its Permanent Secretary, John Akume, dated September 24, 2026.

The letter, with reference number LGSC/ADM/LOEE/5891/126 and titled, “Special Directives on Maintenance of Attendance Register,” was addressed to chairmen of the 23 local government councils and copied to the Directors-General, Services and Administration (DGSAs).

According to the commission, the directive followed an instruction from Governor Hyacinth Alia that all establishments in the state civil service should maintain attendance registers at their workplaces.

The commission directed the councils to open attendance registers for staff across departments, with heads of departments required to open and close the registers daily at 8:30am.

It further stated that “only staff who attain the minimum punctuality of 25 days would be eligible for payment of salaries.”

The commission directed the councils to commence implementation from October 1, 2026, warning that failure to comply would attract sanctions.

Reacting to the directive, PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, described it as “draconian and anti-worker,” arguing that it was inconsistent with the principle of local government autonomy.

Antyo questioned the rationale for the state government issuing directives to the councils if, as the governor has maintained, local governments in the state enjoy financial and administrative autonomy.

“The question Nigerians and Benue people must ask is simple: If Governor Alia has truly granted autonomy to Local Governments as he repeatedly claims, why is his administration still issuing directives to Local Government Councils on how to manage their workforce and threatening sanctions over salary payments?” he asked.

According to him, local government autonomy should include the ability of councils to make decisions concerning administration, personnel management and internal operations.

“A governor who genuinely believes in Local Government autonomy cannot simultaneously act as a supervisor, inspector, disciplinarian and paymaster of local government employees,” he said.

Antyo alleged that the directive exposed a contradiction between the administration’s public position on local government autonomy and its actions.

He said the administration’s actions allegedly showed a determination to retain control over the affairs of the 23 councils.

The PDP spokesman also criticised the salary-related provision, arguing that local government authorities should be responsible for staff attendance, discipline and payroll administration.

“Attempting to centralize such powers undermines the constitutional status of Local Governments and reduces elected council officials to mere spectators in the administration of their councils,” he alleged.

Antyo further questioned whether Governor Alia received directives from the Federal Government on the administration of the state, asking why the state government should issue similar directives to local governments.

He also alleged that local governments in Benue had been operating as “mere appendages” of the Government House, claiming that council officials lacked practical freedom to make independent decisions.

He further alleged that local government chairmen who attempted to assert independence had been suspended and removed from office.

The PDP also raised concerns over alleged outstanding salary arrears owed local government workers, arguing that the administration should prioritise clearing accumulated entitlements rather than threatening workers with salary sanctions.

“It is particularly ironic that an administration which, since 2023, instead of allowing the 23 local governments to use their resources to pay the arrears, the Alia administration has paid only one month of Local Government salary arrears now seeks to threaten workers with salary stoppages,” the statement said.

The party consequently declared that “local governments in Benue State under the Alia administration have zero autonomy.”

The PDP, however, said it was not opposed to accountability, discipline or productivity in the public service, but maintained that such measures must be implemented within the law.

“The PDP is not opposed to accountability, discipline and productivity in the public service. However, these objectives must be pursued within the framework of the law and respect for constitutional governance,” Antyo said.

He added: “What Governor Alia is attempting to do is not reform; it is control. It is not autonomy; it is high-handedness.”

The opposition party called on the governor to withdraw the directive and allow local government councils to exercise the powers and responsibilities it said were constitutionally vested in them.

It also urged the state government to stop what it described as “paying lip service to local government autonomy while simultaneously treating Local Governments as extensions of the Government House.”

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