Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dissolved the State Executive Council in a sweeping move aimed at repositioning his administration for its next phase of governance.
The announcement was made on Wednesday through a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, following the conclusion of the 12th State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held in Makurdi.
According to the statement, Governor Alia directed all outgoing commissioners to hand over the affairs of their ministries to their respective permanent secretaries without delay.
He thanked the former officials for their service over the last two years, urging those who may not return in the next cabinet to stay loyal to the party and remain committed to the development of the state.
“This is not an end but a transition,” the statement noted. “Those not returning are paving the way for others to serve.”
In a decisive step following the dissolution, Governor Alia appointed Mr. Moses Atagher as the new Chief of Staff, replacing Mr. Paul Biam. Atagher, a seasoned legal practitioner and former two-term Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Benue State, also previously served as Acting Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank.
Reacting to the dissolution, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Bemsen Mnyim, speaking on behalf of the outgoing commissioners, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the opportunity to serve.
“Every platform of service is a school,” Mnyim remarked. “We have learned and grown through this experience.”
The cabinet shake-up marks a significant political moment in Governor Alia’s administration, signaling possible strategic realignments as the state government enters a new phase of its governance agenda.