The Alliance for Truth and Democracy (ATD) has challenged Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to explain why the state still owes about ₦65.55 billion in pension and gratuity arrears despite recording more than ₦1.112 trillion in earned resources between 2023 and the second quarter of 2026.
ATD President, Jerome Zoho, made the demand while reacting to figures contained in the Benue State Audited Financial Statements, Budget Implementation Reports and Debt Management Office reports covering the period.
According to the organisation, the figures raise questions about the government’s spending priorities and its handling of pension liabilities.
ATD said Benue recorded approximately ₦151.15 billion in earned resources in 2023, with about ₦29.88 billion reportedly unspent.
In 2024, the state recorded about ₦357.53 billion, while approximately ₦85.18 billion remained unspent, according to the figures cited by the group.
The organisation further stated that Benue recorded about ₦528.10 billion in 2025, with approximately ₦44.74 billion unspent.
By the second quarter of 2026, ATD said the state had recorded about ₦232.56 billion, while approximately ₦67.04 billion was reportedly unspent.
Against this backdrop, the group questioned why pension and gratuity arrears were still estimated at ₦65.55 billion.
“Where is the priority?” the organisation asked, arguing that the figures require clarification from the state government.
ATD stressed that its position was not intended as an attack on Governor Alia but as a demand for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
The group also drew a distinction between the regular payment of current pensions and the liquidation of accumulated pension and gratuity arrears.
According to ATD, available figures indicate that only about ₦13 billion was committed to pension and gratuity arrears between 2023 and the second quarter of 2026.
The organisation therefore urged the governor to publish a comprehensive breakdown of revenues received, expenditures, unspent balances, debt repayments and pension payments during the period.
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ATD said retired teachers, civil servants and other public workers who served the state for decades deserved to have their outstanding entitlements paid.
The organisation called on the government to provide documents and transaction records showing how the state’s increased revenues have been allocated.
