Maureen Okpe
Benue State is taking a step towards sustainable development and fiscal transformation, as the 2025 Appropriation Bill reveals a shift from recurrent-heavy spending to capital-driven investment.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, the ₦550.1 billion budget reflects a deliberate, strategic focus on rebuilding the state’s economy, infrastructure, and public service delivery. Of the total budget, ₦357.6 billion, representing 65%, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while ₦192.5 billion (35%) is allocated for recurrent costs.
This capital-to-recurrent ratio, the statement revealed, is the most progressive in Benue’s history and seen as a decisive move away from the legacy of excessive consumption and administrative costs.
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Sir Kula noted that past administrations between 2019 and 2022 allocated as much as 90% of actual spending to salaries, overheads, and administrative costs, leaving little room for real development. However, Governor Alia has reversed this trend.
Kula disclosed that, the capital expenditure allocation has surged by 254.1% in 2024 and a record-breaking 538.6% in 2025. This fiscal shift has translated into visible and tangible development across the state.
The statement noted that, among the projects executed are the reconstruction of the Benue State House of Assembly Complex, remodeling of the Assembly Clinic into a modern health facility, and the completion of 16 key township roads across Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo.
Other initiatives include the Light-Up Makurdi solar streetlight project, annual distribution of over 100 trucks of subsidized fertilizer to farmers, improved urban water supply, and sanitation infrastructure.
In the education and health sectors, the state government has paid WAEC and NECO fees for all students in public secondary schools, upgraded the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), and renovated over 250 primary schools and 200 health centres.
In the ICT sector, over 10,000 youths have been trained in digital skills in partnership with Google and Microsoft. The administration also procured 100 modern buses for Benue Links, reactivated the Benue Microfinance Bank to boost SME funding, and constructed two major underpasses in Makurdi and Gboko to ease traffic.
Kula emphasized that Governor Alia inherited a distressed financial situation in May 2023, with ₦359.6 billion in debt, 10 months of unpaid salaries, and 36 months of pension arrears. Despite this, seven months’ salaries have been cleared, pension arrears have been reduced by 10 months, and regular monthly payments resumed, all without incurring new debt.
He further revealed that the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) doubled in 2024 to over ₦20 billion and is projected to exceed ₦30 billion in 2025, a 21.7% increase. This growth, he said, is driven by enhanced collection mechanisms, a broader tax base, and increasing public confidence in the government’s transparency.
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“Benue has also witnessed a 153.3% increase in grants and external funding, signaling renewed donor confidence and institutional strength.
“Capital project implementation has improved significantly, with performance rising from 23.8% in 2022 to 85.06% in 2024, an unprecedented level in nearly 20 years.
“The difference between budgeted and actual capital spending has improved from 36% to 65%, with greater accountability and efficient budget execution.”
Kula insisted that Governor Alia is not only managing numbers but driving a vision anchored in integrity, productivity, and people-centred growth. He described the budget as a statement of intent, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to moving from dependency to productivity.
He stated that “Benue is rising again,not by chance, but through disciplined leadership, strategic investment, and a clear developmental agenda that prioritizes long-term impact over short-term political gains.
“With growing investor confidence, visible infrastructure upgrades, and renewed social services, Benue under Governor Alia is becoming a model of responsible governance and inclusive development in Nigeria.”