The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ortom

  • Ortom promises greater service

    Ortom promises greater service

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has promised sustained quality service delivery to the people, while developing the economy.

    Ortom made the promise yesterday in an interview with reporters after his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a two-week leave.

    He said having reappraised his performance in the last two years, he was coming back with a renewed zeal to improve on the development strides taken by his administration.

    According to the governor, he communicated regularly with his deputy, Benson Abounu, to ensure that 80 per cent of the second tranche of the Paris and London club refund was dedicated to salary payment.

    He thanked the people for cooperating with his government so far, and appealed that the gesture be sustained.

  • Ortom: rumours soiling Benue’s image

    Ortom: rumours soiling Benue’s image

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said lies peddled on the social media are giving Benue a negative image before the international community.

    “Lies on social media give Benue a negative image before the international community. There is freedom of speech, but we want social media users to always verify information before posting or sharing,” he said.

    Ortom spoke at Jato-Aka in Kwande, yesterday, at a thanksgiving in honour of the Executive Chairman, Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mrs. Mimi Orubibi, who was conferred with the traditional title of Iwanger (shining light) of Kwande.

    He advised social media users to use freedom responsibly.

    Ortom acknowledged that Benue was going through some challenges, but they were being tackled.

    “We have some challenges; salaries have not been regular, but God will soon provide solution to that problem,” he said.

    The governor urged parents to support the government to fight substance abuse among  pupils.

    He explained that the anti-open grazing law was restricted to Benue, whose people collectively endorsed it at town hall meetings and through representatives at the House of Assembly.

    He noted that appointing Orubibi as the state’s chief tax collector was a tough decision.

    “Since the creation of Benue, only men had served as chief tax collectors; appointing a woman was not an easy task.

    “For some time, I contemplated the issue but eventually allowed God’s will to prevail. I am happy that she has made me proud,” he said.

    Orubibi thanked God and the governor for the appointment, noting that Ortom was the first to appoint a woman as a chief tax collector in the country.

    She promised to put in her best to justify the confidence reposed on her.

  • Cross River hails Ortom over IDPs

    The government of Cross River State has commended Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for the proactive role he has played in providing security and shelter to members of two warring communities displaced in the state.

    Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ivara Esu, gave the commendation yesterday when he led a delegation of the state on a thank-you visit to Governor Ortom at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

    Professor Esu described as laudable, Gov. Ortom’s magnanimity in receiving victims of the clashes between Wanihem and Wanikade communities of Yala Local Government Area, who are currently taking refuge in Benue State.

  • Ortom to seek God’s approval to contest 2019 election

    GOV. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Friday said that he would have to seek God’s approval before he could go for a second term in office in 2019. Ortom made this disclosure at an interactive session with journalists in Makurdi. The governor said that he would have to seek God’s face before knowing whether or not to contest the 2019 election.

    Ortom said that if after consultation with God and the answer was negative, he would go back to his farm. According to him, he is a product of a divine intervention and he always relies on God in everything he wants to embark on. ”It was God that told me that I would be governor of Benue someday, it is not my making but purely the handiwork of God,” he said. Ortom, however, expressed satisfaction that he had performed creditably well based on his achievements, which cut across all sectors of the economy.

  • Ortom, Tsav rift: Tiv leaders broker peace

    Ortom, Tsav rift: Tiv leaders broker peace

    Tiv leaders, led by the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, have waded into the rift between Abubakar Tsav and Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

    They urged the parties to embrace peace.

    The monarchs advised Tsav to retract his petition against Ortom and tender a public apology within two weeks, after which the governor should withdraw proceedings against him.

    The meeting was held at the Presidential Lodge of the Benue Peoples’ House, at the instance of Tsav, who wrote to the Tor Tiv, requesting him to intervene in the matter.

    The leaders included first class chiefs in Tiv land, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, Majority Leader Benjamin Adanyi, President-General of Mdzough u Tiv (MUT) Edward Ujege and the General Secretary, Boniface Ukende.

    The Tor Tiv directed the Tor Jechira, Chief Clement Uganden, and his Lobi counterpart, Chief Moses Anageende, to monitor compliance with advice given to the parties and report back.

    Tsav pledged to heed the advice within the stipulated period, and withdraw his suit at the Federal High Court Makurdi.

    He apologized to the leaders for his actions and promised to refrain from writing further petitions against the governor.

    Governor Ortom directed Andrew Wombo, who is handling the matter, to withdraw the case as soon as Tsav complies with his demands.

  • Ortom vows to reduce N7.9b monthly wage bill

    Ortom vows to reduce N7.9b monthly wage bill

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has promised that his government will scale down the alarming N7.9 billion monthly wage bill as it can longer be sustained by the government.

    The state’s wage stands at N4.2 billion while the local government council is N3.7 billion monthly.

    Ortom, who addressed State House correspondents in Abuja, said the government has begun a comprehensive staff audit to identify ghost workers and remove those due for retirement.

    The staff audit, which will last for three months, will put the government in a better position to pay outstanding salaries, he said.

    Ortom said: “You will recall that I declared a state of emergency on payment of salaries, because I want to be able to  pay salaries as and when due as a worker deserves his wages.

    “I think a wage bill of over N3.2 billion at the state level is too much. When you add pensions and gratuity, it gets to about N4.2 billion; it is too much for Benue State. At the local government, you have a wage bill of N3.7 billion.

    “Ghost workers, those due for retirement and the dead are still in service, collecting salaries and all that. So, we believe that at the end of the day, we will scale down to a level that we will be able to pay salaries as and when due.”

    The governor added that his administration inherited a monthly bill of N8.2 billion from the Gabriel Suswam-led government, but reduced it to N7.9 billion, which he wants to further scale down.

  • Ortom to Tsav: apologise

    Ortom to Tsav: apologise

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has demanded a retraction and public apology from Abubakar Tsav, as a condition for the withdrawal of the suit  against him by the Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner, Michael Gusa.

    Ortom, who addressed reporters after meeting with a delegation from the Public Complaints Commission yesterday, said the criteria was imperative for the amicable resolution of the matter, following the intervention of the delegation.

    He said Tsav’s position on his administration, and the petitions against him and other government officials, were based on false information.

    Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission Mr. Emmanuel Ogbile said the delegation interacted with Ortom as part of efforts to resolve the differences between Tsav and the Ortom-led government.

    He said the meeting was successful and hoped the issues would be resolved amicably.

     

  • Ortom promises dividends of democracy

    Ortom promises dividends of democracy

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has assured the people that his government will provide democracy dividends to them.

    Ortom addressed youths at the Benue People’s House yesterday. They came to express their support for the anti-open grazing law and the governor’s return in 2019.

    He assured them he will continue to provide opportunities for the citizens to excel in agriculture and business.

    The governor, who thanked the youths for their orderly conduct, maintained that the anti-open grazing law has come to stay.

    According to him, the law is aimed at restoring peace between herdsmen and farmers, and not stopping anyone from staying in Benue.

    Anthony Adah, Dan Nyikwagh and Sunny Nyio, who led and spoke on behalf of the youths, told Ortom that after seeing his performance in the last two years, it became necessary for them to encourage him to run for a second term.

    They said youths will continue to support his policies, especially those aimed at protecting lives and property.

  • We have followed due process in grazing law —Ortom

    We have followed due process in grazing law —Ortom

    BENUE State governor, Samuel Ortom, has said due process was followed in the passage of the open grazing prohibition bill and the signing of it into law. Ortom who stated this while receiving the leadership of Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council at Benue People’s House yesterday, maintained that anyone not satisfied with the law should go to court. He thanked the Catholic Church for standing firmly behind the present administration, adding that the bishop in-charge of the diocese has always encouraged him on matters concerning the development of the state, specially, security.

    Ortom disclosed that the herdsmen that are not ready to ranch their cattle are already leaving and appealed to Benue people to allow them to depart in peace. He said those ready to ranch their cattle would be assisted to do so, emphasizing that peace has started returning to the state. He said the Catholic Church has helped education, health and agriculture to grow and assured that his administration would continue to partner with the body of Christ. Ortom said he had been fighting corruption and corruption has been fighting back but victory is certain at the end of the day because the state has been dedicated to God.

    He said his administration had made arrangements to block loopholes in the payment of salaries and stressed that every other thing has been suspended to ensure that salary problem is tackled well. Earlier, the president of the Makurdi Catholic Diocesan Laity Council, Mr Damian Kpengwa, had commended the governor for remaining committed to the development of the state. He also commended him for giving support to the church, pointing out that he, Ortom, assisted the Catholic Church towards giving late Bishop Athanasius Usuuh a befitting burial and organizing a glamorous coronation of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe. Kpengwa condemned statements credited to the leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who criticized the anti-open grazing law and urged the governor not to waiver in the implementation.

  • Resign now, Ortom tells Tsav

    Resign now, Ortom tells Tsav

    BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday called for immediate resignation of the Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission in charge of Benue State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav for abdicating the responsibility of his exalted office. The governor who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr Tarhav Agerzua, at a press conference held in Makurdi said that the call was necessitated by the recent high court judgment in the state. He insisted that Abubakar Tsav should resign his position as federal commissioner, Public Complaints Commission and join them in politics so that they can face one another on a political platform.

    Tarhav said that Alhaji Tsav’s conduct so far had indicated that he has abdicated the responsibility of his office and descended into the political arena. “I am calling on Tsav to honourably resign his appointment with the Public Complaint Commission where he is serving as a commissioner in Benue State because he has been using his office to attack Governor Ortom. “Making spurious allegation against the governor and the kernel of my call is that having been convicted by court of law in the state he should resign immediately and if he chooses not to resign we are sending letter to the national assembly. “As Ombudsman, he is expected to be fair in all issues before him, but he has chosen to be partisan and we expect him to resign and join politics.”

    The governor spokesman disclosed that, already, a State High Court presided over by Justice Maurice Ikpambese, had ordered the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, to pay N10m as damages to Mr. Abrahams Kwaghngu, senior special assistant on special duties to Governor Samuel Ortom, for libel. Reacting to the call, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said whether he is a Public Complaints Commissioner or not, he shall continue to criticise corruption, nepotism and injustice, adding that his responsibility is not to team up with a corrupt government to perpetrate acts of injustice against the ordinary people but rather to be watch Dog for social justice. On the N10m judgement suit slammed on him by Benue State High Court Makurdi, Tsav said there was grave of miscarriage of justice in the case, stating that his lawyer is appealing the judgement.