In a historic moment, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Barr. Aber Serumun Deborah as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), making her the first female to be appointed to the position.

Barrister Deborah’s appointment followed the resignation of the former SSG, Prof. Joseph Alakali.

The appointment was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.

According to Kula, Alakali submitted his letter of resignation yesterday, stating that he needed time to address personal challenges.

The statement added that Governor Alia, in accepting the resignation, expressed gratitude to Prof. Alakali for serving the state under his administration for a year and three months.

“He wishes him well and prays that the Almighty grants the former SSG the strength to tackle the many challenges he has chosen to address,” the statement reads.

“Meanwhile, the new SSG, Barr. Aber is a seasoned solicitor and arbitrator with a strong sense of initiative and excellent analytical skills. She is a team player with good interpersonal skills who always strives for excellence and aims to contribute positively to the success and growth of an organization. She aspires to work in a reputable and challenging environment that encourages professionalism.

“Barr. Aber is a graduate of the University of Jos and Nasarawa State University.

“Governor Alia believes that with her wealth of experience and trustworthy record of service, Barr. Aber will add significant value to his government.

“He charges her to remain focused and align her work with the vision of the administration as outlined in the working document.

“He urged her to always prioritize the interests of the state in her day-to-day official functions.

“The appointment takes immediate effect.”

Governor Alia is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).