Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Benue State Executive Council has approved ₦2.9 billion for the implementation of the second phase of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES 2.0), as well as ₦2.3 billion for the payment of 12 months’ salary arrears owed to academic staff of tertiary institutions in the state.
The approvals were among major decisions reached at the Council meeting held on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at Government House, Makurdi.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, said Council also approved the implementation of 25 and 35 per cent salary increments for members of the Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions of Benue State (ASUTIBS), with an additional monthly commitment of ₦191.9 million.
He further disclosed that approval was granted for the domestication of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for staff of the State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Commission.
Council also approved ₦498.9 million as variation for the ongoing rural electrification project covering 12 communities along the Ihugh axis of Vandeikya Local Government Area, which is about 90 per cent completed.
The Commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperatives, Dr. Ortese Yanmar, identified some of the beneficiary communities as Ihugh, Bako, Abaki, Tse-Alia, Mbausu, Ngehe, Hembe and Anhyula. He explained that the variation became necessary due to increased costs of materials, expressing confidence that the project would be completed before Christmas.
On NG-CARES 2.0, the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Michael Oglegba, said the programme had previously supported rural communities through borehole projects, school renovations, health facilities, cash transfers and business support, adding that the fresh approval would sustain and expand the interventions across the state.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Prof. Jerome Andohol, disclosed that Council approved the domestication of the National Chart of Accounts and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)-compliant budgeting for local governments.
He explained that the initiative would harmonise local government budgeting and financial reporting, strengthen accountability and promote efficient utilisation of public resources.
Prof. Andohol added that the state’s social register currently contains close to 500,000 vulnerable households, representing approximately 1.7 million people, captured under the NG-CARES intervention framework.
Meanwhile, Council celebrated the outstanding performance of Princess Adeja International College, Gboko, which emerged overall best international secondary school in the country for the sixth consecutive time at the Nigerian International Secondary School Model United Nations Competition, winning 37 individual awards.
The Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Adamu Margaret Ijaguwua, also announced that Government Girls’ College, Makurdi, which represented the state at a National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies competition, came third at the North Central level.
She said Governor Hyacinth Alia had directed that arrangements be made to receive and honour the outstanding students of Princess Adeja International College.
On security, Hon. Iorpev said Council received encouraging reports of relative calm across the state, assuring that Benue remained open to visitors and political campaigners, provided they observed due process and necessary security protocols.
He particularly stressed that anyone seeking access to internally displaced persons’ camps managed by the state government must obtain the required permission and clearance.
The Commissioner also announced that Council observed a minute’s silence in honour of former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, who later became Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adam Onum, following news of his demise.
Governor Alia, he added, had directed that necessary arrangements be made for the state government to participate fully in the late jurist’s burial.