The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has criticised a directive by Governor Hyacinth Alia, through the Local Government Service Commission, requiring workers in the 23 Local Government Councils to maintain attendance registers, describing the move as evidence of the administration’s alleged interference in local government affairs.
The party, in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, said the directive, which reportedly threatens workers who fail to meet a prescribed attendance threshold with salary denial, was inconsistent with the principle of local government autonomy.
The PDP argued that the directive contradicted the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment concerning local government autonomy, while questioning the administration’s repeated claims that local governments in the state enjoy autonomy.
The party asked: “If Governor Alia has truly granted autonomy to Local Governments as he repeatedly claims, why is his administration still issuing directives to Local Government Councils on how to manage their workforce and threatening sanctions over salary payments?”
According to the PDP, autonomy requires local governments to have the freedom to make decisions regarding their administration, personnel management and internal operations without undue interference from the state government.
“Autonomy means independence. Autonomy means Local Governments should be free to take decisions concerning their administration, personnel management and internal operations without interference from the State Government,” the party stated.
The PDP further alleged that the directive had exposed what it described as a contradiction between Governor Alia’s public pronouncements on local government autonomy and the administration’s actions.
“What the directive has exposed is the glaring contradiction between the Governor Alia’s public rhetoric and the reality on the ground,” the statement said.
The opposition party also faulted the reported threat to withhold the salaries of workers who fail to meet the prescribed attendance requirement, arguing that personnel management and payroll-related responsibilities should be handled by the appropriate local government authorities.
It said the directive could undermine the constitutional status of local governments and reduce elected council officials to “mere spectators” in the administration of their councils.
The PDP also questioned the extent of the governor’s control over local government councils, asking: “We wonder whether Governor Alia receives directives from the Federal Government. If not, why does he believe it is proper to issue directives to the third tier of government, despite the constitutional legitimacy granted to Local Governments?”
The party alleged that local governments under the Alia administration had been reduced to “mere appendages of the Government House,” claiming that councils lacked the practical freedom and financial capacity to independently award contracts.
It further alleged that local government chairmen who challenged the state government or sought to assert their independence were suspended and eventually removed from office.
The PDP also raised concerns over outstanding salary arrears owed to local government workers, alleging that the Alia administration had paid only one month of inherited local government salary arrears since 2023.
“It is particularly ironic that an administration which, since 2023, that instead of allowing the 23 local governments to use their resources to pay the arrears, the Alia administration has paid only one month of Local Government salary arrears now seeks to threaten workers with salary stoppages,” the statement said.
The party declared: “Local governments in Benue State under the Alia administration have zero autonomy.”
It also accused the administration of lacking the moral standing to threaten workers with salary sanctions while outstanding arrears remained unresolved.
The PDP said it supported accountability, discipline and productivity in the public service but insisted that such objectives should be pursued within the framework of the law and constitutional governance.
“The PDP is not opposed to accountability, discipline and productivity in the public service. However, these objectives must be pursued within the framework of the law and respect for constitutional governance. What Governor Alia is attempting to do is not reform; it is control. It is not autonomy; it is high-handedness,” the party said.
The party called on Governor Alia to withdraw the directive and allow the 23 Local Government Councils to exercise what it described as their constitutionally vested powers and responsibilities.
“We therefore call on the Governor to immediately withdraw the said directive and allow Local Government Councils to exercise the powers and responsibilities constitutionally vested in them,” the statement added.
