The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ortom

  • Ortom partners ITF on youth empowerment

    The government of Benue State and the Industrial Training Funds (ITFF) have established partnership for the training of 500 youths, a way of empowering youths of the state under the National Industrial Skills Development Program (NISDP).

    The governor Dr. Samuel Ortom has voted about N43 million for the procurement of start-up packs for the 500 beneficiaries of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) from the state.

    This is even as the state has pledged to pay N15, 000 monthly stipend to the trainees during the 3-months programme.

    A statement signed by head public relations of ITF Suleyol Chagu in Jos yesterday read: “Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom unveils his plan for youths of the state during the flag-off of the 2nd Phase of the 2016 NISDP in Makurdi recently.

    The statement added, “Dr. Ortom, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu, said the NISDP was a significant step towards taking youths from the state, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in Nigeria, off the streets by providing them with employable skills.

    “The Governor, who blamed rising unemployment for soaring youth restiveness in the state, noted that as part of the state government’s efforts to create employment and reduce poverty, it has entered into partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to secure a N3billion loan to be made available to Small and Medium Enterprises to boost business activities within the state.

    “Ortom added that a portion of the BoI loans would also be extended to the NISDP beneficiaries without collateral, provided they formed enterprises and companies, and have sound business proposals.

    “He appealed to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to make the programme bi-annual so that more youth from the state would benefit.

    Mrs Shagu said in the statement, “In an earlier address, the Director General of the ITF, Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, said that the NISDP was informed by the realization that despite soaring unemployment, vacancies still existed in the National economy that were filled by foreigners  because of the lack of Nigerians with the requisite skills.

  • Ortom: my govt is anchored on the fear of God

    Ortom: my govt is anchored on the fear of God

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has reiterated that his government was divinely established and anchored on the fear of God.

    The governor spoke at the Government House when stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal constituency, led by their representative, Hassan Anthony Saleh, visited him.

    Ortom pomised to run a government of transparency and accountability and never to short-change the people.

    He welcomed Saleh into the APC family, and promised that he and his supporters will be included in the scheme of things.

    Saleh, who defected to the APC a fortnight ago, appreciated Ortom for providing the enabling environment for his reception into the party.

    He pledged his commitment to energising the APC at his constituency and Benue South, saying he was a dependable ally of the party.

     

  • Ortom: I’ve settled with Suswam

    Ortom: I’ve settled with Suswam

    •Governor cancels engagements

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said he has resolved his differences with former Governor Gabriel Suswam.
    At a stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Ortom said the issues, which caused their rift were not personal, adding that those who elected him told him what to do as regards the terrible financial situation he met.
    According to him, traditional rulers from Suswam’s constituency appealed for peace and so the issues were resolved.
    “We have no issues again. The problems have been resolved,” the governor said.
    As soon as Governor Ortom assumed office, he constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the finances of the state between 2007 and 2015.
    It was discovered Suswam sold the state’s shares in the Dangote Cement Company, Gboko, for about N107 billion, allegedly misappropriated.
    Governor Ortom has canceled his engagements for today, including the scheduled swearing-in of new members of the State Executive Council, to honour victims of the crisis in Zaki-Biam market in Ukum council.
    In a statement by his media aide, Tahav Agerzua, Ortom condemned the attack. He urged the people to come up with information that could lead to the arrest of criminals, including Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a. Gana.
    The governor commiserated with families of the victims, promising that the state Security Council will work towards arresting and prosecuting the culprits.

  • I have resolved my differences with Suswam -Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Monday declared that he has resolved his differences with former Governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam .

    Addressing stakeholders at a meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi ,  Ortom said  the issues were not personal since it was those that elected him that told him what to do on the state terrible financial condition.

    “Traditional rulers from Suswam’s area appealed for ceasefire, so the issues have been resolved,” the governor said.

    Ortom said the issues would have been resolved before now but Suswam continued to follow the path of disagreement, stressing that he (Ortom) would not go further.

    He said Suswam was free to seek treatment for wounds he inflicted on himself, adding that he was supposed to meet Suswam before a recent problem arose on the side of the former governor.

    “We have no issues again, the issues have been resolved,” the governor declared.

  • Benue: Ortom sends names of 4 commissioner nominees to Assembly

    Benue: Ortom sends names of 4 commissioner nominees to Assembly

    Gov. Samuel Ortom has forwarded the names of four nominees to the Benue House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Ortom in February dropped four of his commissioners in a cabinet reshuffle.

    The affected commissioners were those of the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Information and Orientation, Tourism and Culture as well as Women Affairs and Social Development.

    According to a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Ijohor (SAN), the commissioner-nominees are Dr Utsev Terlumun, Mr Isegbe Ladi, Mr Joseph Shimaor and Mr Unenge Bernard.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Terhemen Ikyange, said the nominees would appear for screening before the Assembly at a later date. (NAN)

  • Ortom wants more policemen in Benue

    Ortom wants more policemen in Benue

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Inspector-
    General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, to deploy more policemen in the state to stem insecurity following the influx of herdsmen.
    He made the request through the AIG in-charge of zone 4, Alkali Baba Usman, who visited him at the Benue People’s House.
    Ortom requested that some of the just-recruited 10,000 policemen be posted to the state after their training.
    “Security problems have overwhelmed us, especially with the influx of herdsmen and their cattle; there is fear everywhere,” he lamented.
    He, however, appealed to farmers not to take laws into their hands
    Ortom said Usman’s posting to Benue was divine and urged him to use his experience to improve the security situation in the state.
    Usman promised to ensure that peace is restored and law-abiding citizens go about their businesses without molestation.

  • Ortom wants more policemen in Benue

    Ortom wants more policemen in Benue

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Inspector- General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, to post more policemen to the state to stem the tide of insecurity following the influx of herdsmen.

    He made the request through the AIG in-charge of zone four, Alkali Baba Usman, who visited him at the Benue People’s House, yesterday.

    Ortom pleaded that some of the just-recruited 10,000 policemen be posted to the state after their training.

    “Security problems have overwhelmed us, especially with the influx of herdsmen and their cattle; there is fear everywhere,” he lamented.

    He, however, appealed to farmers not to take laws into their hands

    Ortom said Usman’s coming to Benue was divine and urged him to use his experience to improve the security situation in the state.

    Usman promised to ensure peace is restored and law-abiding citizens go about their businesses without molestation.

  • Wanted Benue militia leader has link with Ortom, not Suswam – Group

    A pressure group in Benue State, Not Too Young To Speak (NTYTS), on Thursday said the wanted militia leader in the state, Mr. Terwase Akwaza (a.k.a Gana) is closer to Governor Samuel Ortom than ex-Governor Suswam.

    It claimed that the militia leader is a personal friend of the governor, who was awarded a contract to collect revenue all over the state.

    The group alleged that it was an open secret that the militia leader fell out of grace with top officials of administration.

    NTYTS said if the Department of State Security Service (DSS) was serious about locating the whereabouts of Akwaza, the proper person to ask was the incumbent governor of Benue State.

    The group in a statement issued in Abuja by its National President, Chief Adikpo Agbatse, demanded the immediate release of Suswam.

    NTYTS said it was absurd to link the said militia leader with the ex-governor and urged the DSS not to get entangled in local Benue politics.

    It said the attempts to link the former governor with a well -known militia leader was tantamount to “giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.”

     

  • Ortom urges Suswam to join APC

    Ortom urges Suswam to join APC

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has advised his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, to join him in All Progressives Congress (APC) and build a better state.

    Suswam, however, said he would remain in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaking at the funeral of a community leader and PDP chieftain, the late Samuel Ijirbee Uzenda, in Adzege, Mbaya, Tombo Ward; Ortom, represented by his Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, James Anbua, advised Suswam, who was at the event, to join APC in the interest of his people.

    Anbua said it was wrong for a politician of the calibre of Suswam to be in an opposition party.

  • Ortom appoints SSG

    Ortom appoints SSG

    •Drops five exco members 

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday appointed Prof. Anthony Ijohor (SAN) as Secretary to State Government (SSG).
    He dropped five members of the executive council (exco).
    The governor made the announcement at the exco meeting in Makurdi.
    He listed the dropped commissioners as Information and Orientation Commissioner Chief Odeh Ageh, his colleagues in the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Water Resources and Environment, as well as Arts, Culture and Tourism, Messrs. Mwuese Mnyim, Nick Wende and Sekav Iyortyom.
    Ortom said Special Adviser on Small, Medium Enterprises and Micro Financing, Dr. Augustine Idogah, had also been relieved of his appointment.
    He said Dr. Bem Melladu, who he praised for discharging the duties of the SSG well, would revert to his position as special adviser, adding that other replacements would be made soon.
    Prof. Ijohor replaces Targema Takema, a lawyer, who had been on sick leave.