The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to implement recommendations outlined in the report of an ad hoc committee set up by the State House of Assembly.
The committee investigated the operations of the Caretaker Committees in the 23 local government councils in the state, from June 2023 to June 2024.
Among the critical recommendations is a demand for the Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, to account for the sum of N2,073,779,218.07.
Additionally, there is an order for a former Special Adviser to refund N1,782,000,000.
The Benue PDP made the call in a statement on released on Friday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Tim Nyor.
Parts of the statement read, “As the steward of the people’s welfare and governance, it is imperative for the governor to prioritize transparency and accountability within our local government system.
“The findings by the Assembly ad hoc committee, which are of significant concern, must not only be acknowledged but acted upon as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to anti-corruption efforts.
“We are alarmed by the reported corrupt activities involving both the Bureau for Local Governments and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
“These serious allegations require immediate attention, and appropriate action should be taken to hold accountable those involved.
“The PDP firmly believes that the integrity of our local governance structures is essential for the development and progress of the state.
“We urge the governor to exhibit strong leadership by ensuring the full implementation of these recommendations.
“The PDP stands in solidarity with the people of Benue in demanding integrity, transparency, and accountability from their leaders.”
The Benue PDP warned that failure to act upon the committee’s recommendations will not only erode public trust, but also jeopardize the development of the state.