Friday, 4th September 2026

On the 29th of July 2026, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, inaugurated the Benue State Economic and Policy Advisory Team (BEPAT). This inauguration has generated considerable public interest, with citizens keen to understand its purpose, its relationship with existing government structures, and how it intends to operate.

I want to take out this time in this feature to shed light on the Team, its mandate, and the thinking behind its establishment.

To appreciate BEPAT's role, it helps to understand the planning framework already in place under the current administration. At the outset of his tenure, His Excellency, the Governor, set up an Economic Management Team made up of the Commissioner of Finance, the Accountant General of the State, the Director-General of the Budget and Economic Planning Commission, and other senior government officials. This team drives the State's short- and medium-term development agenda, overseeing the Annual Budget, the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and the State's 10-year development plan.

BEPAT was inaugurated as part of activities marking Benue @50, a year-long celebration culminating in February 2027, and its mandate is markedly different from that of the Economic Management Team. Rather than focusing on the day-to-day and medium-term running of government, BEPAT has been tasked with developing a long-term vision and strategic roadmap for Benue State over the next 30 years, a horizon that stretches well beyond the life of the current administration.

Far from duplicating existing efforts, the two bodies are designed to complement one another. One is anchored in the present, guiding current government planning and implementation; the other looks to the future, shaping the long-term trajectory of the State. This coordination is reinforced by shared membership: three key figures on the Economic Management Team — the Commissioner of Finance, the Accountant General, and the Director-General of the Budget and Economic Planning Commission — also sit on BEPAT, ensuring continuity and alignment between both institutions.

It is also worth noting that BEPAT's remit is broader than economics alone. As its full name, "the Benue State Economic and Policy Advisory Team" suggests, the Team is charged with offering strategic advice not only on economic matters but on wider public policy issues affecting the State.

A question that has arisen in public discourse is whether BEPAT will have adequate access to the Governor to make its work meaningful. On this, the Government offers firm assurance. The Governor deliberately included three senior officials who engage with him regularly, the Commissioner of Finance, the Accountant General, and the Director-General of the Budget and Economic Planning Commission, as members of the Team. Their presence provides a direct and effective institutional link between BEPAT and the Governor, ensuring that the Team's recommendations are given due and timely consideration at the highest level.

Some have also questioned whether BEPAT can function effectively without a dedicated budget or permanent staff. This, too, is by design. BEPAT was deliberately structured as a high-level advisory body rather than a new bureaucratic institution. It does not require its own budget or permanent personnel; instead, it draws on the expertise, staff, and resources of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as the need arises.

BEPAT commenced work immediately following its inauguration, holding its inaugural meeting with all necessary logistical and administrative support provided, a clear demonstration of Government's commitment to ensuring the Team delivers on its mandate.

The Benue State Economic and Policy Advisory Team remains committed to providing independent, evidence-based, and forward-looking advice that will help position Benue State for sustainable growth and prosperity in the decades ahead. As the State marks fifty years of existence and looks toward the next thirty, BEPAT stands as a deliberate investment in the future, one that invites every Benue citizen to join in charting the course for the Benue of our dreams.

Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev,