Benue Gov Pledges January Deadline for Pension Arrears, Appeals to Doctors Over Strike
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has assured retired civil servants that all outstanding pensions and gratuities accumulated between 2023 and 2025 will be cleared before the end of January 2026, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
The assurance was conveyed in a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, and made available to journalists in Makurdi.
According to the statement, the governor said his government had consistently prioritised the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities since he assumed office.
“We’ve been paying gratuities because I have taken the welfare of my staff and all civil servants very seriously. In the last two and a half years, I have never missed the payment of salaries and pensions, including gratuities,” Alia said.
He explained that while his administration initially focused on settling already approved arrears, attention has now shifted to ensuring that retirees within the period of his tenure receive their full entitlements without further delay.
“For those within the last two and a half years who have not received their gratuities, they will receive them in a matter of days. All gratuities within this period will be paid,” the governor assured.
Alia added that the settlement of other outstanding salary and pension obligations would continue in line with the state’s financial capacity, stressing the need to balance fiscal sustainability with workers’ needs.
He maintained that civil servants remain central to the functioning of the state.
“I have no reason not to pay civil servants. They work for the state, and this is the only livelihood they know. That is why we do this very deliberately and diligently,” he said.
Beyond state labour matters, the governor also weighed in on the ongoing nationwide strike by resident doctors, urging dialogue as the most effective means of resolving the dispute.
He acknowledged that some of the doctors’ grievances may stem from unmet obligations inherited from past administrations, noting that governance is continuous and such commitments must be addressed.
He expressed concern over the impact of the strike on healthcare delivery, particularly its potential consequences for families and communities, and appealed to the doctors to consider the humanitarian implications of their action.
“When you lose one person in the state, it is one too many. It haunts you,” Alia said.
Describing the medical profession as a calling that demands sacrifice, the governor praised resident doctors and other health workers for their dedication, while urging them to reconsider the strike in the interest of saving lives.
He also expressed optimism that the standoff would be resolved soon, noting that the Federal Government was actively engaging stakeholders to address the issues raised.
