ONLY ONE GOVERNOR IS STILL OWING WORKERS IN THE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL ERA
See the facts below:
In May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a historic and courageous decision to remove Nigeria’s fuel subsidy. That single policy choice radically altered the fiscal landscape of the country, making resources available to all tiers of government in a manner unseen since 1999.
Before that decision, during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, no fewer than 28 states were unable to pay salaries, pensions and gratuities. Salary backlogs were commonplace, and states struggled simply to stay afloat.
Today, that difficult era is over.
Since the removal of fuel subsidy, no state in Nigeria is complaining of insufficient funds to pay workers or retirees. On the contrary, states are receiving such voluminous allocations from the Federation Account that salary payment has become routine and unremarkable. Governors across the country have not only cleared inherited arrears but are also executing capital projects without resorting to borrowing.
Except one.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State stands alone as the only governor in Nigeria who has failed to clear outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities, despite benefiting fully from the post-subsidy fiscal windfall.
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This failure is even more striking when placed in proper context.
Benue State under Samuel Ortom was not among the five states with the highest salary or pension arrears during the Buhari years. Ortom inherited over ₦72 billion in unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities, yet he paid more than ₦42 billion of that liability under extremely harsh economic conditions, leaving only about five months’ arrears of state civil servants and about 11 months for teachers by the end of his tenure.
Ironically, Governor Alia, who campaigned vigorously against his predecessor and promised to clear the backlog of salaries, pensions and gratuities within his first 100 days in office, has been unable to clear even this reduced backlog, despite operating in the most financially favourable environment states have ever known.
Under Alia, primary school teachers are owed 11 months of salary arrears, local government staff 15 months, and Teaching Service Board staff 4 months. Pension and gratuity arrears have now ballooned to 25 months.
Even more troubling is the fact that the Alia administration continues to deduct the statutory 8 percent pension contribution from civil servants’ salaries without remitting it to their pension accounts. Compounding this violation, the government of Alia has also failed to remit its own corresponding 8 percent contribution to the pension fund.
Meanwhile, across Nigeria, governors who inherited far worse situations have acted responsibly and decisively:
In Kogi State, Yahaya Bello left behind a staggering 39 months of unpaid salaries. His successor, Usman Ododo has since cleared the arrears and restored regular payments.
In Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu left behind five months of salary arrears and 18 months of pensions. Alex Otti has paid all outstanding obligations.
In Osun State, salary and pension arrears reached up to 36 months under Rauf Aregbesola. Gboyega Oyetola cleared the backlog following subsidy removal.
In Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri inherited 20 months of unpaid salaries and pensions but joyfully cleared them once subsidy was removed.
Delta State, which owed up to 36 months of salaries and pensions, has fully cleared its backlog.
Imo State, owing four months of salaries and 34 months of pensions, has stabilised payments under Governor Hope Uzodinma who has publicly acknowledged that subsidy removal saved states from collapse.
Plateau State, once owing 16 months of pensions, has cleared all arrears under Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
At a town hall meeting in Makurdi in June 2024, President Tinubu himself confirmed that states now receive so much money that there is no justification for owing salaries or pensions, nor any need to borrow before paying workers.
Against this overwhelming national evidence, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s failure cannot be explained away by inherited liabilities, federal policies, or economic constraints. Every other governor, many of whom inherited far heavier burdens, has acted. Benue State alone remains an outlier.
https://radionigeria.gov.ng/2026/01/10/fg-establishes-nigeria-house-davos-ahead-of-wef-2026/
The conclusion is inescapable: Governor Hyacinth Alia is the only governor in Nigeria who has failed to pay workers and retirees despite unprecedented financial inflows to states. That fact speaks for itself, and history will record it.
* Compiled by Samson Ochono in Apo, Abuja.
