ALIA’S SERIAL FAILURE CONFIRMED: THREE NATIONAL RANKINGS, ONE VERDICT - BENUE IN DECLINE …. BUDGiT, CIAPS and GGRI Agree: Alia Has Failed!

 

The latest ranking by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), which placed Governor Hyacinth Alia 34th out of Nigeria’s 36 governors in its Governance Performance Index (CGPI), is yet another devastating indictment of an administration that has consistently failed the people of Benue State.

This latest assessment, based on critical indicators such as transparency, accountability, e-governance, and public sector performance, is not an isolated incident. It is the third major independent report in less than one year exposing the alarming decline of Benue State under Governor Alia’s watch.

In November 2025, BudgiT ranked Benue State 34th out of 35 states in Nigeria’s Fiscal Performance Index. Added to these is the Good Governance Rating Index (GGRI), a United Kingdom-based governance monitor, which also ranked Governor Alia among the worst-performing governors in Nigeria.

Three independent organizations. Three separate assessments. Three embarrassing verdicts.

The message is unmistakable: Benue State is moving backwards under Governor Hyacinth Alia.

These reports merely confirm what Benue people experience daily: worsening insecurity, abandoned communities, zero welfare packages for workers, declining agricultural productivity, growing poverty, weak institutions, and a government that appears more interested in propaganda than performance.

The greatest tragedy is that this failure cannot be blamed on lack of resources. Governor Alia has presided over the most financially privileged administration in Benue’s history.

Within just three years, over ₦1.2 trillion has accrued to Benue State through FAAC allocations, local government allocations, internally generated revenue, intervention funds, grants, and loans. Never before has any governor in the history of the state enjoyed such enormous financial inflows.

The question every Benue man and woman is asking today is simple: Where is the money?

What exactly has Governor Alia done with over ₦1.2 trillion?

Where are the signature roads that should transform the state’s economy?

Where are the industrial projects that should create jobs for thousands of unemployed youths?

Where are the modern hospitals and schools that should justify the unprecedented revenues received?

Where are the agricultural investments expected in a state that proudly calls itself Nigeria’s Food Basket?

Why are workers still battling salary arrears, pensioners still waiting for their entitlements, and communities across the state still lacking basic social amenities such as healthcare facilities and water, despite the enormous resources available to government?

Even more disturbing is the fact that many states that receive far less revenue than Benue are posting significantly better results. Across the North Central region and beyond, governors are utilizing the opportunities created by fuel subsidy removal to execute transformational projects, expand infrastructure, improve public services, and attract investments.

In Benue State, however, the story remains one of excuses, endless media propaganda, political distractions, and a desperate attempt to explain away every poor ranking instead of addressing the issues highlighted by those reports.

A responsible government confronted with three separate negative national assessments would embark on serious introspection and corrective action. Unfortunately, Governor Alia’s administration appears determined to attack messengers while ignoring the message.

No amount of propaganda can erase the reality that Benue continues to rank poorly in governance, fiscal management, transparency, accountability, and overall performance.

The people deserve answers.

The people deserve a full account of how over ₦1.2 trillion has been utilized.

They deserve to know why a state blessed with vast agricultural resources, strategic location, and hardworking people continues to underperform under an administration that has enjoyed unprecedented financial resources.

Benue cannot continue on this path of declining performance while government officials pretend that everything is well.

The evidence is now overwhelming.

BudgiT has spoken.

Phillips Consulting has spoken.

The Good Governance Rating Index has spoken.

CIAPS has spoken.

The verdict is clear: Benue is underperforming, and Governor Hyacinth Alia owes the people an explanation for what has become one of the most disappointing administrations in the state’s history.

Enough excuses. Enough propaganda. Benue deserves accountability.

Signed:

Oliver Omenka

Secretary General,

Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)