Why the Benue First Lady Coordinator Is Addressed as “Her Excellency” — Gov. Alia’s Aide

The Benue State Government has defended the use of the title “Her Excellency” for Mrs. Scholastica Terngu Bensor, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady. The government says that criticism of the designation stems from misinformation and political intrigue.

In a statement released on Thursday, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, said that the public debate over the title revealed a widespread misunderstanding of governance structures and protocol practices.

Kula explained that “Her Excellency” is a formal honorific used to recognize women who hold high‑ranking public positions or who are entrusted with significant government responsibilities. He emphasized that the title is not reserved only for the wives of governors and presidents.

He added that the designation is commonly applied to female leaders, ambassadors, ministers, and women appointed to coordinate major public service and humanitarian programmes.

The governor’s spokesman noted that the Office of the First Lady is not a constitutionally established executive office; it functions mainly as a humanitarian and social intervention platform, and its structure varies from state to state.

He cited examples from Akwa Ibom and Edo states, where individuals who coordinate activities associated with the Office of the First Lady are accorded official protocol recognition and addressed as “Her Excellency” while carrying out their duties.

Kula maintained that Governor Alia has the constitutional authority to appoint competent individuals to implement his administration’s vision, especially in areas of humanitarian intervention and social welfare.

He said Mrs. Bensor has demonstrated the competence and commitment required for the role and has effectively coordinated programmes aimed at vulnerable groups across the state.

The statement urged the public to approach discussions on governance issues with facts and proper context rather than political sentiment, stressing that such offices are designed to support government programmes and not to create parallel structures of authority.