Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State in North Central Nigeria, has urged Nigerians not to take the opportunities provided by democracy for granted.
Governor Alia stated this on Monday in a broadcast message to the people of Benue State to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.
He charged politicians to protect democracy adding that the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes call for sustenance of Democratic tenets for the present comfort of all Nigerians and the future benefit of generations yet unborn.
He said he would use the mandate given to him through the ballot as an opportunity to right the wrongs and to rekindle hope in the electorates that a better Benue is possible and indeed at hand.
“We assure you that we are not a Government for any particular political party, any ethnic group or any religion. As a matter of fact, we are not only for Benue indigenes. We see all legitimate Benue residents as our people and would always treat them fairly, with respect and decorum”, Alia promised.
The Governor gave an insight into some few key decisions taken by his administration so far, particularly the recent sacking of over 4000 workers.
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“On the issue of Recruitments/ Appointments, we noted that it was full of irregularities. Specifically, the Civil Service Secretariat through the outgone Administration recruited 2,194 persons.
“The State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, employed 3,028 people against the approved number of 2,500 only while Replacements made were over 5,000”.
The situation according to the Governor was not different at the Benue State Teaching Service Board, TSB which employed over 2,500 teachers for Grant-in-Aid Schools.
“Replacements were about 2,484. In the entire exercise, due process was not adopted. In addition, the employment was lopsided in favour of few Local Government Areas and did not reflect the principle of State character into consideration”.
The governor noted that in addition to the above reasons, “no budgetary provision was made to cater for the recruitments just as there was no advertisement in any media as required by the provisions of the rules guiding the Service on the matter” adding that “no Interviews were conducted to determine suitability or otherwise of candidates”.
Governor Alia explained that the process embarked upon by his administration was not in any guise an indication of a witch hunt, given some of the key decisions he has taken in office so far.
He assured that the non-payment of salaries which bedeviled the immediate past adminstration would soon be over as his government is set to commence regular payment of salaries from June 25, 2023.
