…How Governor Alia’s fiscal discipline is driving real development across the state
“From debt reduction to renewed capital investment, from youth empowerment to infrastructural rebirth, Benue State is not timid. It is bold, visionary, and rising again”.
BY TERSOO KULA
A careful look at the official breakdown of the Benue State’s 2025 budget and the state’s fiscal trajectory under Governor Hyacinth Alia reveals a very comfortable stand for the state
It indicates very clearly that the state is not stagnating but rather rising, rebuilding, and responsibly investing in development.
The 2025 Benue State Appropriation Bill clearly demonstrates a bold developmental focus. Out of the total ₦550.1 billion budget: ₦192.5 billion (35%) is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure, while₦357.6 billion (65%) is devoted to Capital Expenditure.
This represents one of the most progressive capital-to-recurrent ratios in the state’s history, emphasizing infrastructure growth, economic stimulation, and social investments.
For context, under previous administrations (2019–2022), Benue’s budgets were heavily tilted toward recurrent costs with about 90% of actual spending going to salaries, overheads, and administrative expenses, leaving barely 10% for real development.
Governor Alia’s administration has reversed this pattern dramatically. Capital expenditure allocation growth has soared from 54% in 2022 to 254.1% in 2024, and now to a record-breaking 538.6% in 2025.
This surge has translated into visible projects across sectors road infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, and human capacity development.
The new fiscal direction has given birth to tangible projects that have changed Benue’s physical and economic landscape. Among them are:
Reconstruction of the Benue State House of Assembly Complex with modern facilities; Remodeling of the Assembly Clinic to a 21st-century health centre; Execution of 16 strategic township roads within Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo metropolis.
Installation of solar street lights under the Light-Up Makurdi Project; Yearly procurement of over 100 trucks of fertilizer distributed to farmers at subsidized rates; Improved water supply and sanitation across major towns; Training of 10,000 youths in ICT and digital skills in collaboration with Google and Microsoft; Transformation of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) with modern facilities; Reactivation of Benue Microfinance Bank to support small and medium enterprises; Procurement of 100 modern buses for Benue Links to improve public transport; Payment of WAEC and NECO fees for all students in public secondary schools; Rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and installation of new 33KVA transformers to ensure steady power supply; Construction of two underpasses in Makurdi and Gboko; rehabilitation and reconstruction of over 250 primary schools across the state; rehabilitation and reconstruction of over 200 healthcare centers across the state etc.
These interventions, spanning agriculture, human capital, and infrastructure, underscore a state government determined to convert revenue into real value for its citizens.
Let it not be forgotten that Governor Alia inherited a financially distressed state in May 2023, with₦359.6 billion in total debt, 10 months of unpaid salaries, and 36 months of pension arrears. Within a year, seven months’ salaries have been cleared, pensions reduced by 10 months, and regular monthly payments restored all without taking new loans.
Meanwhile, the IGR doubled in 2024 to over 20 billion Naira and expected to exceed 30 billion in 2025, representing about 21.7% increase. This growth reflects improved collection efficiency, expansion of the taxable base, and renewed public trust.
Equally remarkable is the state’s growing attractiveness to development partners. Grants and external funding have risen by 153.3%, indicating stronger institutional capacity and renewed donor confidence in Benue’s fiscal management.
Moreover, the performance of capital projects in Benue has witnessed astronomical improvement. Capital budget performance jumped from 23.8% in 2022 to 85.06% in 2024, the best in nearly two decades.
This level of execution signals fiscal discipline, better project design, and stronger alignment between budget plans and actual implementation. The difference between budgeted and actual capital spending has climbed from 36% to 65%, underscoring accountability and improved governance systems.
Beyond Numbers: A Renewed Vision
It is important to note that governance is not merely about figures on a balance sheet, but it is about direction, integrity, and the ability to turn financial resources into human progress.
Governor Alia’s administration has redefined fiscal responsibility in Benue. By reducing waste, prioritizing investment, and ensuring transparent disbursement. The state is gradually freeing itself from the “consumption trap” that once stifled its growth.
Benue’s current fiscal structure reflects both courage and innovation a transition from dependency to productivity, from routine spending to tangible development.
The facts of Benue’s 2025 budget tell a different story, which is a story of a state reclaiming its future under responsible leadership.
From debt reduction to renewed capital investment, from youth empowerment to infrastructural rebirth, Benue State is not timid. It is bold, visionary, and rising again.
Indeed, under Alia, Benue is on the rise not by chance, but by choice and by disciplined leadership.
…Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
