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Tag: Benue State Governor

  •  Ortom gives reason for work free days in Benue

     Ortom gives reason for work free days in Benue

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has said decline in federal allocation occasioned by fall in oil prices in the international market necessitated the declaration of Fridays  as work free days for the months of June and July.

    Governor Ortom who gave the explanation while receiving executive members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Benue state branch, at the Benue People’s House on Tuesday, said such a measures would reduce the effect of economic crunch on the workers.

    He called on members of  NURTW to intensify farming activities, stressing that farming pays more than any other business in Nigeria.

    The governor said the problem of militants in the Niger Delta region has reduced Nigeria’s oil production capacity from 2.3 million barrels a day to less than 1 million and expressed the fear that it may reduce to less than 800,000 barrels a day.

    He said prices of rice, soya bean, beni-seed, groundnut, maize and other food crops have skyrocketed and urged NURTW members to take advantage of the situation.

    He said he would return to the farm after leaving office, adding that as a former Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, he is advising Benue people to invest in agriculture.

    Governor Ortom said  as a member of the union, he would always identify with the rest of the members, emphasizing that some people thought he would not become governor because he used to work  at the motor park.

    While saying that he still visits Gboko motor park from where he acquired more education and finally became a PhD holder, the governor said his doctorate degree was not disputable.

    Governor Ortom expressed worries over the proliferation of motor parks in the state and promised to ensure that orderliness was restored.

    He directed the Special Adviser on Politics, Mr Sarwuan Tarnongo, to liaise with the chairman of Konshisha local government with  a view to resolving the disagreement between the council and NURTW and warned that no one should see himself as being above the law .

    The governor said he would provide the union with a utility vehicle when the situation improves, explaining that local government and state workers were being owed salaries for five and four months respectively because of the difficult economic situation.

    He said he was in support of  a scheme that would enable members of the union to own vehicles through a soft loan scheme, pointing that such a scheme would be viable because they have good knowledge of driving.

    He urged members of the union to regard the administration as their own, stressing that if he fails, they would share in he blame.

    Earlier, the state Chairman of NURTW, Comrade John Shom, who spoke through the National Assistant Secretary of the Union, Comrade Boga Abul,  said Governor Ortom’s administration  was labour friendly

    Shom also said the governor has been able to use scientific approach to water down the issues that would have led to labour unrest and commended him for the amnesty programme which he described as a huge success especially in the Sankera geopolitical axis.

    He expressed joy over the governor’s efforts in completing some projects abandoned by the immediate past administration and maintained that the renovation of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Makurdi, was equally commendable.

    Comrade Shom praised Governor Ortom for facilitating the accreditation of the School of Medical Sciences and ensuring that medical students graduated and declared support for the APC led government .

  • Ortom denies spending N200m on democracy day

    Ortom denies spending N200m on democracy day

    Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has denied a report that his administration spent N200 million on Democracy Day celebrations.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, the governor said the report was false and mischievous.

    The governor said a “letter” purportedly written by Secretary to the State Government to the Commissioner of Finance for the release of N200 million was forged.

    “Those conversant with the system know that requests for release of government funds have to be approved by the governor after which they are conveyed to the Finance Commissioner by the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration.

    “A letter purportedly written directly by the Secretary to the State Government to the Finance Commissioner demanding release of funds is not tenable in the government of Benue State.

    “The credibility of the letter has been further destroyed by the fact that even the SSG’s first name has been wrongly spelled as Targena instead of Targema,” the statement said.

    Ortom said his administration did not hold Democracy Day celebrations but Jumat prayers and an interdenominational church service, both of which cost N2million.

    “The memorandum requesting funds for the two events was raised by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Terwase Orbunde, and money was released through his office.

    “The breakdown of the expenditure was as follows: Jumat prayers: N500, 000 and interdenominational church service: N1, 500, 000.00,” the statement said.

    The governor said has administration has been prudent in managing the state’s resources.

    “We urge media practitioners and members of the public to dig into the expenditure for Democracy Celebrations of the immediate past administration and compare with our frugal handling of a similar event.

    “Since assumption of office, the Ortom administration has prudently managed the meager resources available in the best interest of the people.

    “In spite of the economic and social challenges it has recorded milestones including the graduation of 40 medical doctors from the Benue State University, resumption of contractors on 12 abandoned roads across the state as well as on-going work on two new ones.

    “There are so many on-going projects such as the completion of the Cancer Screening Centre in Makurdi, renovation of the Old House of Assembly building and completion of the New Complex, as well as the Deputy Governor’s office, to mention a few.

    “There is a lot to show but the media tour was shifted as a result of the prayer and fasting program which culminated in the dedication of Benue State to God.

    “We urge members of the public to dismiss and disregard the publication as the handiwork of mischief makers out to discredit the Ortom administration,” the statement added.

     

  • Ortom urges women to pray for the state

    Ortom urges women to pray for the state

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on women in the state to continue to pray for the success of  his administration.

    Making the call during the prayer session organized by the Women Wing of Benue State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria,  CAN, at the Grace Chapel of Benue People’s  House.  Ortom said prayers would help to change the critical situation.

    He said like Aaron and Joshua did to Moses, Benue women should support his administration in this trying period.

    The governor said attacks from Fulani herdsmen and moral decadence are not peculiar to the state and noted that people of the state have decided to ask God for intervention.

    While expressing the hope that Benue would not be the same after the two week prayer sessions, Governor Ortom sounded the warning that the time of waste was gone.

    He said the states’s federal allocation has declined from N2 billion to a little above N1 billion and explained that Fulani attacks and challenges from within have made the people to intensify efforts in agriculture.

    The governor asked citizens of the state to massively attend grand finale of the two week prayer period coming up next Monday at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, Square, Makurdi and assured that God would meet every person at the point of his need.

    In a remark at the event, wife of the Governor, Dr (Mrs) Eunice Ortom, said Benue women started praying for God’s blessing in 2015 and called for more participation.

    Mrs Ortom explained that the prayers being offered by women were not based on political considerations and noted that after creating man, God created woman to be his worthy partner.

    She said God used women to bless the world and stressed that Mary the mother of Jesus gave testimonies of God’s goodness.

    According to the First Lady of Benue state. Esther played vital roles in the life of women by bringing succor to them.

    She said Benue people can say Alleluia today because Jesus gave them freedom on the cross and observed that the greatest way of finding joy and peace is for one to find his way into his heart.

    Monday prayer session by the women wing of CAN was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, the Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, members of the State Executive Council and women from different denominations.

     

  • Ortom signs 2016 budget into law

    Ortom signs 2016 budget into law

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has promised to provide conducive atmosphere for the House of Assembly to operate.

    Giving the assurance while signing the 2016 budget of N150.7 billion into law Monday, Ortom said he would not interfere with activities of the House.

    He said for the purpose of checks and balances, the executive arm of government would prefer a situation where the judiciary and the legislature operate independently but emphasized that synergy would bring about faster development.

    He said his administration would ensure that provisions of the budget which has recurrent and capital expenditure of N66.592 billion and N84.148 billion respectively would be strictly complied with, stressing that lawmakers should ensure its implementation through oversight functions.

    Ortom said in line with his administration’s fight against corruption, 2016 budget provisions would not be contravened, pointing out that last year’s budget was not properly monitored.

    He therefore directed the director of budget to ensure that extra budgetary expenditure does not arise, warning that if there must be such a thing, he must be informed so that approval would be given for supplementary budget or adjustments.

    Earlier, while presenting copies of the budget to the governor for his assent, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Terkimbi  Ikyange, had explained that  it was increased  from the initial  N133. 3 billion to N150.7 billion due to few ongoing projects in the ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.

     

  • Efforts ongoing to free Kidnapped catholic priest – Ortom

    Efforts ongoing to free Kidnapped catholic priest – Ortom

    Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom has assured the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo that the State Government has intensified efforts to secure the release of the Vicar General of the Diocese, Reverend Father John Adeyi, who was kidnapped two weeks ago.

    The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo has severally pleaded for his release saying they don’t pay ransom as such has no money to do so.

    Rev Adeyi, who is the Vicar General of Catholic Diocese   of Otkupo  and priest in charge of St Bernard Catholic Church Okpoga, in Benue south was kidnapped two weeks ago after he conducted a mass at an out station church .

    Governor Ortom who gave the assurance when he paid a solidarity visit to the Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Michael Apochi, said the State Security Council had met and directed that everything lawful should be done to ensure that Reverend Father Adeyi regains freedom.

    He expressed worry that after two weeks of the priest’s abduction, he is yet to be freed, describing the situation as unfortunate and condemnable.

    Governor Ortom who was accompanied by his Deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu, said they were at the Bishop’s house to identify with him and the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and to reassure them that the State Government will not relent in its efforts to ensure the unconditional release of the Vicar General.

    He stressed the commitment of his administration to the security of lives and property, disclosing that part of the measures taken was the introduction of the anti-kidnapping law which will soon be enacted in the state, adding that he had intensified talks with the Federal Government towards ending frequent attacks and killing of people by herdsmen in the state.

    Responding, the Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Michael Apochi, thanked Governor Ortom for the visit and his prompt action to have Reverend Father Adeyi released by his abductors. He said the Church will continue to pray for the safe return of the Vicar General.

  • Ortom visits Agatu over herdsmen attacks

    Ortom visits Agatu over herdsmen attacks

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has solicited assistance from the Federal Government, global agencies, organizations, and individuals to rehabilitate destroyed communities in Agatu and other parts of the state.

    He also requested federal government’s support to institute a commission of inquiry to examine the causes of the attacks, document the losses and recommend solutions.

    Governor Ortom made the requests while speaking with journalists in Okokolo, Agatu local government area after the state executive and security councils inspected some communities destroyed by herdsmen during the recent attacks.

    He described the magnitude of destruction as monumental and far beyond the financial capacity of the state to rehabilitate the affected communities.

    The Governor said he had visited some of the places attacked by insurgents in the North East but the magnitude of devastation in Agatu far exceeded those places.

    Governor Ortom requested the Federal government and people of goodwill across the world to assist the Benue State government to enable ravaged communities to recover and get their lives together again.

    According to him, farming and grazing were incompatible hence the imperative to establish ranches as a permanent solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herders.

    He announced that the state government would construct the road from Obagaji to Agagbe in Gwer West local government area while the road from Oshigbudu to Obagaji would be completed in order to enhance accessibility to the area.

    Governor Ortom stated that with the inspection, the councils would take further steps to secure the area so that the people could return to their homes.

    He addressed the affected communities at Aila, Okoklo and those displaced at Obagaji.

    Those who spoke including Agatu Caretaker chairman, Joseph Ngbede, traditional rulers of Agatu and Apa, Chiefs Godwin Onah and John Antenyi, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leader in the area, John Ngbede, Special Adviser, Alhaji Isah Usman, Assembly member. Alhaji Sale Audu, and former council chairman, Mike Inalegwu commended Governor Ortom for his efforts in restoring peace in the area.