Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has assented to the 2026 appropriation bill of N695.01 billion, describing it as ”a people-focused spending plan.”
Governor Alia said that the budget was aimed at rural development, livelihood support and a sustained economic growth.
Few days ago, the governor submitted to the Benue State House of Assembly an appropriation bill of N605.51 billion, but the House after the appropriate budgetary processes, passed 695.01 billion, with an increase of N89.5billion.
During the ceremony, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Alfred Emberga while presenting the bill to the Governor for his assent informed that the House did due diligence by painstakingly scrutinizing and analysing the budget viz-a-viz the current economic realities and in line with the vision of the administration.
The governor, who spoke during the signing of the bill, christened the “Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth,” noted that “this budget is rooted in the realities of our present and is guided by the aspirations that bind us to a greater tomorrow.”
Alia noted with emphasis that “at the heart of Benue lies a strong rural foundation that feeds the nation, preserves our culture, and anchors our path to inclusive growth. For decades, these rural communities carried the weight of neglect, despite feeding the nation. With this budget, we make a bold declaration: the era of rural neglect is over”.
According to him “the 2026 Budget deliberately prioritizes rural transformation through feeder roads, bridges, water supply, rural electrification, and climate-smart infrastructure. When we connect farms to markets, we unlock wealth. When we connect communities to schools and hospitals, we secure dignity. When rural Benue thrives, the entire State prospers.”
Governor Alia, who noted that Benue farmers were the pride of this land, pointed out that it was on that account that agriculture and agro-industrial development receive strong backing in the budget
”We are expanding access to subsidized inputs, mechanization, extension services, aggregation centers, and cottage processing facilities. We are not just growing crops; we are growing value chains, jobs, and incomes.”
Alia commended the Benue State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Emberga, for what he described as a diligent, transparent, and patriotic budget process.
As he called for collective responsibility, Governor Alia also urged citizens, development partners, the private sector, traditional institutions, civil society groups, and the media to see the budget as an invitation to partnership.
The Governor expressed optimism that the implementation would be carried out with discipline and accountability, stressing that the success of the budget would ultimately be measured by its impact on the lives of Benue residents.
