Shocking Resignation: Gov Alia's Aide Joseph Cites Year-Long Salary Delay!

Atu Terver Joseph, the Special Assistant to Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Youths and Media Mobilization, has officially resigned from his position, with the resignation taking effect immediately. Initially, Joseph cited personal reasons for his departure. However, following his formal resignation, he later came forward with allegations of delayed salary payments throughout his tenure, claiming he worked for an entire year without receiving any remuneration.

In his resignation letter, which was formally addressed to the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Atu Terver Joseph conveyed his profound respect and gratitude to Governor Alia. He acknowledged the valuable opportunity to serve within the administration and expressed appreciation for the experience gained during his time in office. His letter stated, "I write with profound respect and gratitude to tender my resignation from my position as Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilization effective immediately. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve under your administration and for the confidence posed in me. I remain appreciative of the experience gained and I wish your Excellency continued success in the service of Benue State."

Despite his initial formal and grateful tone, Joseph subsequently released a video message after his resignation, in which he made serious allegations regarding his compensation. He claimed, "I worked in the first year of my appointment without salaries and allowances but I continued. I started receiving salaries after one year of my appointment." This revelation painted a different picture of his experience within the administration, suggesting a significant period of unpaid service before he began receiving his due entitlements.

Adding another layer of complexity to his exit, Atu also hinted at a potential shift in his political allegiance. Prior to his resignation, he had publicly disclosed on his verified Facebook page that he had paid a visit to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. This visit, occurring shortly before his departure from Governor Alia's administration, has fueled considerable speculation about a possible political realignment for Joseph as he exits the state government.

In the wake of these developments, efforts were made to elicit a reaction from key government officials regarding the allegations and the resignation. However, attempts to reach the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, and the Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, proved unsuccessful, as calls to their respective lines went unanswered at the time this report was being compiled. As of now, the Benue State government has not yet issued an official response to the claims made by the former aide, leaving the allegations unaddressed publicly.