ALIA’S SERIAL FAILURE CONFIRMED: THREE NATIONAL RANKINGS, ONE VERDICT — BENUE IN DECLINE
…BudgiT, GGRI and CIAPS Agree: Alia Has Failed, Says NTG
The Network for Transparent Governance (NTG) has described the latest ranking of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, by the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) as further confirmation of what it termed the steady decline of governance and public administration in the state.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Oliver Omenka, the group said the CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI), which ranked Governor Alia 34th out of Nigeria’s 36 state governors, represents yet another damning verdict on an administration that has allegedly failed to deliver meaningful progress despite unprecedented financial resources at its disposal.
According to NTG, the CIAPS assessment, which evaluated governors on key governance indicators including transparency, accountability, e-governance, and public sector performance, is the third major independent report within a year to place Benue among the poorest-performing states in the country.
The group recalled that in November 2025, BudgiT ranked Benue State 34th out of 35 states in its Fiscal Performance Index, while the Good Governance Rating Index (GGRI), a United Kingdom-based governance assessment platform, also listed Governor Alia among the worst-performing governors nationwide.
“Three independent organizations, three separate assessments, and one unmistakable verdict: Benue State is moving backwards under Governor Hyacinth Alia,” the statement declared.
NTG argued that the findings merely reflect the realities confronting ordinary citizens across the state, including persistent insecurity, abandoned communities, declining agricultural productivity, rising poverty levels, weak public institutions, and what it described as a growing disconnect between government rhetoric and actual performance.
The organization noted that the most troubling aspect of the situation is that the poor performance cannot be attributed to inadequate funding
According to the group, Governor Alia has presided over what it described as the most financially privileged administration in the history of Benue State, with over ₦1.2 trillion reportedly accruing to the state within three years through Federal Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements, local government allocations, internally generated revenue, intervention funds, grants, and loans.
“Never before has any administration in Benue State enjoyed such enormous financial inflows,” the statement said.
The group consequently questioned the utilization of the resources, asking what tangible projects and measurable developments could be linked to the massive revenues received by the state government.
“Where are the signature road projects expected to transform the state’s economy? Where are the industrial investments that should be creating employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed youths? Where are the modern hospitals, schools, and agricultural initiatives that should justify such unprecedented revenue inflows?” the statement queried.
NTG further expressed concern that workers and pensioners in the state continue to face welfare challenges while many communities allegedly remain without access to basic amenities, including quality healthcare, potable water, and other essential social services.
The group also pointed out that several states with significantly lower revenue profiles have recorded greater progress in infrastructure development, investment attraction, and public service delivery, particularly following the increased revenues available to states after the removal of fuel subsidies.
“Across the North-Central region and beyond, governors are leveraging new fiscal opportunities to execute transformational projects and improve the lives of their citizens. Unfortunately, Benue’s story remains one of excuses, media propaganda, political distractions, and attempts to explain away poor rankings rather than address the issues raised,” the statement added.
NTG maintained that any responsible government faced with multiple independent negative assessments would undertake serious introspection and corrective measures.
Instead, it alleged that the Benue State Government has focused on discrediting critics rather than addressing concerns relating to governance, fiscal management, transparency, and accountability.
The organization called on Governor Alia’s administration to provide a comprehensive account of how public funds have been expended and to explain why the state continues to rank poorly despite its considerable financial resources and economic potential.
“The people of Benue deserve answers. They deserve transparency. They deserve accountability. They deserve to know why a state blessed with vast agricultural resources, strategic advantages, and hardworking citizens continues to underperform despite receiving unprecedented revenues,” the statement emphasized
The group concluded that the accumulation of negative assessments from independent organizations leaves little room for denial.
“BudgiT has spoken. GGRI has spoken. CIAPS has spoken. The evidence is overwhelming. The verdict is clear: Benue is underperforming, and Governor Hyacinth Alia owes the people an explanation for what is increasingly being viewed as 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)
