Benue journalists urge citizens to support Governor Alia’s e-governance reforms

• Laud governor’s transformative reforms in civil service, e-governance

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

The Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) has called on Benue citizens to support the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia as it pursues the implementation of e-governance by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to streamline operations and enhance effective service delivery.

While commending the governor for his far-reaching reforms in the state, the media group noted that the reforms have impacted the state’s civil service and ushered in an era of effective e-governance that promotes transparency and accountability.

In a statement signed by its Vice President, Ewache Ajefu, CBJ urged Governor Alia to sustain these reforms, which are necessary to assist the government in directly addressing long-standing challenges that have hampered economic growth and development in the “Food Basket” state.

“We are aware that the establishment of the Directorate for Diaspora Linkages and Investments, which focuses on attracting investments and improving agricultural policies, and other steps for promoting an e-governance system in the state are already yielding positive results that are capable of improving lives,” the statement noted.

CBJ enjoined stakeholders in the state to team up with the administration of Governor Alia to tackle corruption and pursue sustainable development as the government seeks to deliver on critical projects.

“Benue people are presently happy with Governor Alia’s reforms in the civil service that have witnessed merit-based promotions, prompt payment of salaries and arrears, and contemporary administrative practices that prioritise professionalism on the job,” the group said.

“The mandatory e-filing system, the establishment of key platforms like the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC) and the Benue State Digital Infrastructure Service Management Enforcement Agency (BENDME), form the backbone for the state’s digital transformation agenda that will no doubt encourage international partnerships and foreign direct investments (FDI),” the statement added.

CBJ also lauded Governor Alia’s approval of ₦75,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in Benue State, describing the decision as a pivotal step to uplift employees’ morale amid prevailing economic hardship across the country.

The statement further encouraged Governor Alia to remain unwavering in addressing critical challenges confronting the state while fulfilling his electioneering campaign promises, which centred on security, human capacity development, infrastructure, economic growth, and the promotion of agriculture in the state.