In an unprecedented move to promote transparency and accountability, the people of Benue State, under the banner of the Benue Development Movement (BDM), have issued a clarion call to their National Assembly members. The lawmakers have been summoned to a townhall meeting to publicly account for the billions of naira allocated for constituency and intervention projects across the state.
This citizen-led initiative, described as a landmark in participatory democracy, follows a petition from residents demanding answers and updates on how federal allocations are being utilized in their constituencies. The move is aimed at shedding light on alleged misuse and underutilization of public funds earmarked for grassroots development.
In a powerful press statement signed by the State Coordinator of BDM, Comrade Isaac Abah, the group emphasized the need for elected officials to uphold the principles of transparency and stewardship. “It is imperative that Benue people are informed about how funds meant for their development are being deployed,” the statement read.
Billions Allocated, But Where Is the Impact?
According to BDM’s findings, each serving Senator from Benue State received constituency allowances as high as ₦2 billion, while House of Representatives members got ₦1 billion each for the 2024/2025 budget cycle. Constituency allowances are designed to help federal lawmakers implement impactful projects tailored to the needs of their people. However, BDM claims that many of these funds are shrouded in opacity, with little to show on the ground.
“It is our civic responsibility to ensure that public funds are altruistically dispensed for the benefit of all citizens,” Abah stressed. “The townhall meeting is not a witch-hunt but a platform for dialogue, evaluation, and ultimately, progress.”
To empower the public for meaningful engagement, the group released a detailed list of 39 constituency projects and 72 intervention projects captured in the 2024 federal budget. These span across multiple federal constituencies in Benue and include infrastructural, empowerment, and educational projects.
Highlights from the disclosed allocations include:
Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency – ₦370 Million
Construction of motorised boreholes
Provision of solar-powered street lights
Digital literacy and ICT empowerment programs for youths
Distribution of empowerment tools to beneficiaries
Gwer East/Gwer West – ₦415 Million
Construction of solar street lights – ₦50 million
Provision of WASH facilities – ₦60 million
Youth and women empowerment programmes – ₦70 million
Distribution of motorcycles, sewing, and grinding machines – ₦80 million
Provision of classroom blocks and furniture – ₦65 million
Motorised boreholes in selected wards – ₦90 million
Gboko/Tarka – ₦370 Million
Vocational training for women and youth
Distribution of household tools (hairdryers, sewing machines, etc.)
Support for technical trainees
Construction of classroom blocks
Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo – ₦790 Million
Solar street lights – ₦150 million
Distribution of tricycles and motorcycles – ₦120 million
Skills acquisition and starter packs – ₦100 million
Rural roads rehabilitation – ₦110 million
Borehole projects – ₦85 million
Medical outreach and equipment for hospitals – ₦65 million
Educational science materials – ₦70 million
School renovations and furniture – ₦90 million
Apa/Agatu – ₦415 Million
Construction of motorised boreholes
New primary healthcare facilities
Distribution of solar streetlights
Skill acquisition materials and entrepreneurship training
Otukpo/Apa – ₦275 Million
Empowerment of women through cash and equipment
Entrepreneurial training programs
Provision of toilets and waste disposal facilities
Agricultural input distribution
Obi/Oju – ₦435 Million
Youth technical and vocational training
Construction of rural roads and school blocks
Agricultural tool support for rice farmers
Distribution of educational materials
The scheduled townhall meeting is expected to provide a platform for lawmakers to present progress reports, while also allowing citizens to conduct on-the-spot assessments and seek clarifications. The BDM says this engagement will strengthen the public’s role in tracking government spending and ensuring that development reaches the grassroots.
Analysts view this development as a bold step that could set a new standard for accountability in Nigeria’s democratic landscape. The success of this initiative in Benue could inspire similar movements across the country, bridging the gap between elected officials and the people they serve.
As the townhall approaches, all eyes are on Benue. Will the lawmakers rise to the occasion, or will the people expose a glaring accountability deficit? The answers may shape the state’s development trajectory for years to come.
PIONEER NEWS 