Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has approved plans to reintegrate local government workers who were disengaged in 2011 and 2012 into the state’s payroll.
The decision, according to government officials, is part of the administration’s effort to correct past injustices and promote fairness within the state’s public service, particularly at the grassroots level.
A circular issued by the Benue State Local Government Service Commission, dated October 10, 2025, and signed by Owoicho Odeh, Director of Administration and Finance, for the Chairman of the Commission, directed that a screening exercise be conducted for all affected staff.
The circular, addressed to all local government chairmen and directors-general of services and administration, stated that the exercise would cover workers employed in 2011 and 2012 who were later removed from the payroll.
It advised all concerned workers to take note of the approved timetable and make themselves available for the exercise, emphasizing that strict compliance with the schedule was necessary to ensure a smooth process.
According to the statement, “only staff whose names appear on the approved lists would be attended to during the exercise.” It also directed leaders of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) across the 23 local government areas to mobilize affected members for the screening.
The exercise will begin on October 20, 2025, and end on November 1, 2025. It will hold daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Local Government Service Commission Headquarters in Makurdi. Each council will be attended to on designated days as contained in the timetable.
A mop-up session has been scheduled for those who miss their initial dates, with Zone A fixed for October 30, Zone B for October 31, and Zone C for November 1, 2025.
Affected workers are to present relevant documents such as their first appointment and confirmation letters, last promotion letter, certificate of local government origin, and either a birth certificate or declaration of age.
They are also required to bring along all academic credentials, a valid means of identification, bank details, BVN, bank name, and National Identification Number (NIN).
Governor Alia’s directive marks a major step toward addressing the grievances of the disengaged workers who have been out of the system for over a decade.
The move is also seen as part of his administration’s broader commitment to rebuilding trust in public institutions and ensuring transparency in government employment processes.
Officials said the screening will pave the way for the reinstatement of qualified personnel, restoring not only their jobs but also confidence in the fairness of Benue State’s governance structure.