Benue Pensioners, Motorcyclists Purchase, Present Nomination, Expression of Interest Forms to Gov. Alia

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Benue State Chapter, in collaboration with the Benue Motorcycle Owners Association (BEMOA), on Saturday presented nomination and expression of interest forms to Governor Hyacinth Alia, urging him to seek re-election in 2027.

The event, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, saw the leadership of the two unions formally hand over the forms, reportedly worth N50 million, to the governor.

Speaking at the occasion, the Benue State Chairman of NUP, Comrade Michael Vembe, said the unions were motivated to purchase the forms as a gesture of appreciation for the governor’s regular payment of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants in the state.

Vembe also commended the constitution of a committee to review and offset pension arrears. He, however, appealed to the government to place pensioners on free and compulsory medical care.

“We had enough funds to purchase the forms for the governor, but BEMOA decided to join us, and we went to Abuja together to procure them,” he said.

In his remarks, the State President of BEMOA, Terfa Aha, said the decision to support the governor was based on his visible achievements across various sectors.

“In recognition of the governor’s performance, we decided, in conjunction with NUP, to purchase these forms for you. We will mobilise support for your re-election in 2027,” Aha stated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, described the gesture by the unions as both “noble” and “novel,” noting that no state governor in the country had enjoyed such support.

He disclosed that members of the State Executive Council had also sought the governor’s permission to purchase forms for him and had raised N34 million for that purpose.

“We will continue to support you. Those for you are more than those against you,” Ode said.

Responding, Governor Alia expressed appreciation to the unions, describing the gesture as humbling and a call to greater service.

“This is a humbling moment for me. It reminds me that Benue has long-standing challenges that must be addressed. We must change the dynamics and embrace new ways of doing things,” he said.

The governor noted that his administration prioritised the welfare of civil servants and pensioners, even amid limited resources and criticism.

“For the first nine months in office, I used an old car that eventually broke down because we prioritised workers and pensioners. We made sacrifices to take care of the people of Benue,” he said.

Alia added that despite challenges, including misinformation and criticism, his administration remained focused on delivering development to the grassroots.

He also highlighted improvements in security, stating that the number of local government areas affected by insecurity had reduced from 17 to six.

“We still have enormous work to do to eradicate banditry and kidnapping. My heart goes out to internally displaced persons (IDPs). We will continue to support them and prioritise the welfare of our people. Your contributions will not be in vain,” the governor pledged.