Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, took a bold step on Wednesday, January 22, by locking out hundreds of workers and several commissioners from the state secretariat for arriving late to work. Governor Alia, known for his unannounced visits, arrived at the secretariat at approximately 10:35 am, catching many workers off guard.

The governor's convoy prompted the gates to be shut, leaving late-arriving civil servants and top officials stranded outside. During his tour of the secretariat, Governor Alia expressed disappointment at the absence of many senior staff and emphasized the importance of punctuality and dedication to duty.

Addressing the locked-out workers, Governor Alia warned against complacency and stressed the consequences of their actions. He reminded them that their roles are crucial to the progress of the state and that punctuality and discipline are expected from all workers .

Governor Alia's message was clear: "The work I do is not for me, but for those who don't even know I'm the governor... It's not about me. Who is the government? All of you here are the government." He urged the workers to take responsibility and consider the ripple effects of their actions on their families and those depending on them.