Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on July 30, 2025, dissolved his executive council and appointed Paul Biam as the new Chief of Staff, marking a significant administrative reshuffle. 

The announcement, made via a state broadcast, cited the need for “renewed efficiency” amid ongoing security and economic challenges, including farmer-herder clashes that displaced 400,000 residents since 2021, per the National Emergency Management Agency. The dissolved council, formed in May 2023, included 14 commissioners and 10 special advisers, with Alia thanking them for their service while promising a leaner, more focused team.

Biam, a retired army colonel and former legislator, replaces Terwase Orbunde, whose tenure was marred by allegations of mismanagement, though no formal charges were detailed. The new appointees, yet to be named, will be unveiled after screening, with Alia emphasizing security expertise given 120 deaths in June 2025. 

Political analysts from the Centre for Democracy and Development suggest the move consolidates Alia’s control ahead of 2027, but opposition voices in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decry it as a purge of dissenters. The narrative of governance renewal is strategic, though its impact hinges on addressing insecurity and public trust.