2027: Benue Pensioners To Purchase Nomination Form For Governor Alia

The Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has announced plans to use their one-month pension to purchase a governorship nomination form for the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, to enable him to contest again in 2027.

This decision was revealed by the union’s chairman, Mike Vembeh, during the presentation of a commendation letter to Dr. Stephen Hwande, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi. Dr. Hwande was lauded for initiating free medical services for pensioners in the state.

According to Vembeh, the gesture of purchasing the nomination form is a show of gratitude to Governor Alia for what he described as “bringing pensioners back to life.” He noted that previous administrations had neglected pensioners, leaving them in dire conditions. Vembeh expressed hope that Governor Alia would continue his good works if re-elected in 2027.

Vembeh further appealed to the CMD to extend the free medical services to pensioners at the local government level, ensuring those in remote areas also benefit. He also urged the governor to increase pension payments to reflect current economic realities, as some pensioners earn as little as ₦2,000 monthly, which is insufficient to cover their basic needs, including medication.

“The pensioners here today represent the three senatorial districts of the state and will report back to others who could not attend. We are grateful for the subsidy and free medical services provided to our members,” Vembeh stated.

He also praised Governor Alia’s choice of Dr. Hwande as CMD of BSUTH, describing him as someone who genuinely cares for pensioners. Even before his current role, Dr. Hwande reportedly organized free treatments for pensioners using personal resources.

The union chairman also called on the governor to commence the payment of inherited pension arrears, amounting to 96 months for local government pensioners and 42 months for state pensioners, left unpaid by previous administrations.

In response, Dr. Hwande explained that the free medical services initiative was designed to complement Governor Alia’s efforts to improve the welfare of pensioners. He assured them that a committee had been established to ensure seamless access to healthcare for certified pensioners.

He further urged the union to provide identification cards to all pensioners for easier access to medical services and promised to discuss the extension of free services to local government areas with the governor. Dr. Hwande concluded by emphasizing that the era of neglecting pensioners’ welfare was over.