Alia Under Fire as New Governance Ranking Places Benue Amongst Nigeria's Worst -Performing States

 

By Wilson Macaulay

Governor Hyacinth Alia has come under renewed criticism following the release of a new national governance ranking that placed Benue State among the worst-performing states in Nigeria, with critics describing the development as further evidence of what they termed a deepening governance crisis in the state.

The latest assessment by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies ranked Governor Alia 34th out of Nigeria's 36 state governors in its Commonwealth Governance Performance Index (CGPI), a report that evaluates governors on key governance indicators including transparency, accountability, e-governance, public service delivery, and institutional effectiveness.

Reacting to the report, the Secretary General of the Network for Transparent Governance, Oliver Omenka, described the ranking as a "damning verdict" on the administration, arguing that it confirms concerns long expressed by many residents about the direction of governance in Benue State.

According to Omenka, the CIAPS ranking is the third major independent assessment within a year to portray the state negatively.

He recalled that in November 2025, the civic accountability organization BudgiT reportedly ranked Benue 34th out of 35 states in its Fiscal Performance Index, while the United Kingdom-based Good Governance Rating Index also classified Governor Alia among the country's poorest-performing governors.

"Three independent organizations have conducted separate assessments and arrived at similar conclusions. The message is unmistakable that Benue State is moving in the wrong direction," Omenka stated

The governance advocate argued that the rankings merely reflect the realities confronting many residents across the state, including persistent insecurity, declining agricultural productivity, unemployment, poverty, weak public institutions, and inadequate social services

He maintained that the situation is particularly troubling because the state has reportedly received unprecedented financial inflows during the current administration

According to the NTG Secretary General, more than ₦1.2 trillion has accrued to Benue State over the last three years through federal allocations, local government allocations, internally generated revenue, intervention funds, grants, and loans.

He questioned what tangible developmental projects could be identified from such resources, asking where the major infrastructure projects, industrial investments, modern healthcare facilities, educational improvements, and agricultural initiatives expected from such funding had gone.

Omenka further expressed concern over the continued complaints of salary arrears, pension obligations, inadequate healthcare facilities, and poor access to potable water in several communities despite the substantial revenue available to government.

He noted that several states with significantly lower revenues have recorded remarkable improvements in infrastructure development, investment attraction, and public service delivery, especially following the increase in revenues occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

"In many states across the federation, governors are utilizing available resources to transform their economies and improve the welfare of citizens. In Benue, however, the dominant narrative remains one of excuses, political distractions, and media propaganda," he alleged.

The NTG official urged the Benue State Government to respond constructively to the concerns raised in the various assessments rather than dismissing them outright.

He argued that responsible governance requires introspection, accountability, and corrective action whenever credible institutions raise issues regarding performance.

"The people deserve answers. They deserve a comprehensive explanation regarding how public funds have been utilized and why the state continues to rank poorly in critical governance indicators despite unprecedented financial resources," he said.

Omenka maintained that Benue's vast agricultural potential, strategic location, and abundant human resources should ordinarily position the state among Nigeria's leading performers in governance and development.

He concluded that the convergence of negative assessments from multiple independent organizations should serve as a wake-up call for government officials to prioritize accountability, transparency, and measurable development outcomes.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Government had not issued an official response to the latest CIAPS ranking or the allegations contained in the NTG statement.

The development is expected to further intensify debates over governance, public finance management, and development performance in Benue State as stakeholders continue to assess the impact of the current administration on the state's socio-economic trajectory.