Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of centralising decision-making in the Benue State Government, alleging that commissioners and other political appointees have been sidelined.
Speaking on Democracy Today, a programme aired on African Independent Television (AIT), Moro claimed that virtually all key government functions are controlled by the governor, leaving other senior officials with little or no authority.
According to the lawmaker, Governor Alia has assumed responsibilities that ordinarily fall within the purview of the Accountant General and commissioners overseeing finance and works.
Moro urged Benue residents to assess for themselves whether political appointees have sufficient responsibilities or influence within the administration, insisting that governance should be more inclusive.
He argued that the alleged concentration of authority had affected the government’s ability to respond effectively to humanitarian challenges, particularly in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Recalling one visit to an IDP camp, Moro said a commissioner announced a donation of ₦150,000 to be shared among three camps, a gesture he described as inadequate for the emergency situation.
He also recounted another visit during which, according to him, the Deputy Governor pledged ₦1 million to soldiers fighting insecurity but lacked the financial authority to fulfil the commitment independently.
Moro maintained that the situation reflected broader structural challenges within the administration and called on Governor Alia to adopt a more inclusive style of governance by involving other stakeholders in the management of the state.
