2027: Alia, PDP In Fresh War Of Words Over N30bn Monthly FAAC

Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in war of words over the recent comment made by Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike that Benue is now receiving N30bn monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev,  in a statement faulting Wike’s comment said Governor Alia has justified every Kobo of the Benue allocations.

Iorpev said the effects of exchange-rate adjustments and inflation on the purchasing power of the naira should be considered why questioning the state’s monthly revenue of the Alia’s administration.

The commissioner said the PDP-led administration under former governor Samuel Ortom that governed Benue for eight years before Alia assumed office left behind substantial debts, unpaid salaries and pensions, abandoned projects and deteriorating infrastructure.

According to Iorpev, the Alia’s administration was deploying the state’s resources to address inherited liabilities while funding development projects across the 23 local government areas.

“The Economic Reality: Allocations vs. Purchasing Power. It is funny that the PDP critics who are eager to sound the alarm on “N30 billion monthly FAAC” intentionally ignore basic macroeconomic fundamentals like the Exchange Rate & Inflation Dynamics. Comparing today’s nominal naira figures to allocations from four or eight years ago is fundamentally misleading.

The commissioner added, “Due to exchange rate adjustments and foreign exchange reforms, the purchasing power of today’s naira allocation is comparable to, if not lower in real value than what the previous administration received. The previous administration enjoyed stronger purchasing power relative to global and local market rates, yet managed to leave empty coffers, abandoned projects, and massive debt”

“In other words, the previous administration had the opportunity to do twice more than what the Alia led administration is doing. But as it is now, Governor Alia is delivering vastly superior results in a high-cost economic environment. So it is much more than Dr Akase Mentioning 30 billion naira to sound big in the ears of the gullible” Iorpev said.

On it part, the Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked Alia’s government to stop excuses, publish Benue’s FAAC records and account for every Kobo without delay.

PDP said the attacks on Ortom and references to past administration cannot replace transparency.

‎In a statement issued by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, stated, “The PDP is appalled that rather than provide verifiable answers to questions surrounding the reported monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts of approximately ₦30 billion, the two officials have chosen to retreat into political accusations, historical comparisons and propaganda against the immediate past administration.
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‎Benue people are not asking for political drama. They are demanding accountability. They want to know how much money their state receives, how much is spent, what it is spent on, what liabilities remain outstanding and what tangible projects have been delivered with public funds”
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‎”These are legitimate questions that no responsible government should evade. Governor Alia’s administration cannot continually invoke the record of its predecessor whenever questions are raised about its own stewardship. The past does not provide a hiding place for the present and attacking the opposition is no substitute for opening the books” PDP said.

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