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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Ortom debunks rumour of workers retrenchment

    Ortom debunks rumour of workers retrenchment

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has dismissed widespread rumour that his administration was planning to downsize the state’s workforce because of economic constraints.

    Governor Ortom who stated this while fielding questions from journalists at the end  of the meeting he held with officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE  and affiliate unions at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, said the  meeting addressed the problem of non-payment of salaries.

    Governor Ortom said the difficulties he has faced in paying salaries arose as a result of the dwindling allocation to the state which dropped to N1.3 billion and explained that the allocation was too meager to meet the challenges confronting the state.

    He maintained that Benue workers contributed immensely to his emergence as governor, and reiterated that he has no intention to downsize the workforce even in the face of economic challenges.

    “I am not thinking of downsizing the workforce for now, we are thinking of industrializing the state so that even civil servants can go into the industries and forget about civil service; workers in Benue state are part of me, they contributed immensely in making me governor, and there is no way I will toy with their welfare,” he added.

    He said, the only way the state can wriggle out of the quagmire is to borrow money to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries of workers who are the ‘drivers of the economy’.

    In separate interviews, the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya, as well as his NULGE and TUC counterparts, urged the state governor to obtain more loans to clear workers’ salaries.

    “I support the idea that the governor should borrow money again to clear workers’ salaries because as long as we live, we cannot die because there is no money, so, if it means borrowing one hundred times, NLC will agree that government should go ahead and borrow”, Anya said.

    On his part, the state NULGE Chairman, Mr. Terungwa Igbe, also supported the move to obtain another loan to pay workers, stressing that local government workers needed to be paid.

  • I won’t surrender Benue to criminals – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday declared that he will not allow criminals to have their way in the state.

    The governor said he will not rest until they are completely chased out from the state.

    The governor spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, he has the mandate of the Benue people, who elected him into office, to fight any form of criminality to the end.

    Ortom also disclosed that he has ordered full investigation into the recent incident in the state where gunmen killed his Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters, Mr. Denen Igbana, in Makurdi.

    He said: “I cannot in any way surrender my state to criminals. I am going to fight them headlong.

    “I am the governor of Benue State, I was duly elected and I have the backing of my people to fight criminals so that we can have a free society to build our economy.

    “On security, we just need to strengthen ourselves and fight the criminals that are unleashing terror on our people.

    “We have dedicated the state to God and we trust Him that He will help us. I trusted Him to become governor and I became a governor. I am also trusting Him to succeed.

    “By the time I am rounding off my tenure as governor in the next three years, by the grace of God, ignorance, poverty and diseases would have been eradicated in the state.”

     

  •  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 appoints acting SSG

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appointed Dr. Bem Meladu as the acting Secretary to the State Government.

    A statement issued on Monday in Makurdi by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    The statement added that the acting scribe had already been sworn-in by the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Terwase Orbunde.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the substantive SSG, Mr. Targema Takema, is currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment at the National Hospital Abuja.

     

  • Ortom appoints acting SSG

    Ortom appoints acting SSG

    The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has approved the appointment of Dr Bem Meladu, as the Acting Secretary to the State Government until further notice.

    Dr Melladu has been Special Adviser on Economic Investment.

    The letter conveying the appointment was signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honourable Terwase Orbunde.

    It said the appointment followed the ill health of the substantive Secretary to State Government, Mr. Targema Takema.

    The Chief of Staff also conveyed Governor Ortom’s directive deploying Dr Benjamin Teryima Ashaver, Special Adviser on Revenue and Taxation to cover for his colleague at Special Duties office.

  • 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.

     

  • I didn’t lay landmines for Ortom – Suswam

    I didn’t lay landmines for Ortom – Suswam

    A former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday said he did not lay landmines for his successor, Governor Samuel Ortom.

    He also said his administration didn’t leave behind N140 billion debt as claimed by the governor.

    Suswam, who made the clarifications in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Hon Terkaa Mamwoo, said a panel set up by the Benue Governor discovered that his government borrowed only N18 billion from issuance of bonds.

    The statement said: “The attention of His Excellency, Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue State, has been drawn to a report in the media on Tuesday which quoted his successor in office, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as accusing him of deliberately creating problems for his administration when he was about to leave government in 2015.

    “According to the report, Governor Ortom, who spoke in Makurdi on Monday, particularly blamed his predecessor for causing the problems currently confronting his administration, by allegedly looting the state’s treasury.

    “The former Governor wishes to state emphatically that his administration did not deliberately lay any landmines for the succeeding administration since his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a candidate who was hoping to take over from his administration.

    “Therefore, he couldn’t have deliberately created hurdles on the way to make the succeeding administration fail.”

    Suswam said the alleged debt of N140 billion credited to his tenure was false.

    The statement added: “The much touted N140 billion debt allegedly left behind by our administration exists only in the imagination of the Governor who has continued to use the non-existent figure as a cover up for his ineptitude and administration’s lack-lustre performance.

    “The report of the probe panel instituted by the Ortom administration even acknowledged that the Suswam administration borrowed only N18 billion from issuance of bonds, so where did Governor Ortom get the figure of N140 billion he has been peddling about?

    “It is instructive to state that the Suswam administration did not divert N107 billion as claimed by the probe panel report as the administration applied the funds accruing to the state on provision of infrastructure.”

  • Agatu killings: Benue demands N100b compensation

    Agatu killings: Benue demands N100b compensation

    The people of Benue State are asking for N100b compensation for the attacks on Agatu area of the State by unidentified Fulani herdsmen that led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

    As a solution to the clashes arising from cattle grazing in the State and other parts of the country, the State government is insisting that cattle ranching is the only solution to the clashes.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, who said President Muhammadu Buhari directives in March led to a flurry of activities, however disclosed that 18 people have been arrested in connection with the Agatu attacks.

    He however disclosed that the police was yet to gather enough evidence to prosecute the suspects.

    Thursday at the continuation of a House of Representatives  public hearing on Agatu killings by unidentified Fulani herdsmen, the IGP told Committee on Police Affairs that efforts were made to put in preventive measures after interactions with governor Samuel Ortom and town hall meetings held with communities in Benue and Nasarawa States over the incidents.

    While he affirmed that security reasons would not allow him to divulge some sensitive information publicly,  Arase said the police was willing to work with vigilante groups, while beefing up the Benue State Police Command with intelligence, more personnel and technology.

    However, in his presentation, MUT President General, Edward Ujege said about 500 people were killed in the attacks while asking for N100b in compensation.

    Ujege, who said the attacks were deliberate and professionally executed, lamented the deterioration of relationship with the Fulanis that had barely 50,000 herds of cattle in 2010 but by 2016 having more than a million in the State.

    Saying that the herdsmen attacks took place in 14 out of 23 Local Government Areas of the State, Ujege also aleged that chemical weapon might have been used by the herdsmen that have killed thousands since the outbreak of the attacks.

    He said: “The herdsmen have ransacked whole communities in Benue and other parts of the country, plundered, killed and chased everyone out; and are now comfortably settled on these lands.

    “Between 2015 and 2016, 101 persons had been killed, 6650 others were displaced andproperties worth N8, 335,664,000.00 was destroyed by the herdsmen in four local councils in the state namely: Buruku,Logo,Tarka and Ukum.

    “Fulani herdsmen have invaded and occupied portions of 11 out of 14 local government areas constituting 78 percent of TIV speaking areas as follows: Guma and Gwer West LGAs 75 percent of the wards have been invaded and occupied while in other LGAs 25 percent of the wards are being occupied.

    While he disregarded suggestions for grazing routes, Ujege said cattle ranching is the solution, adding that cattle rearing should be treated as a private business.

    The Deputy Governor, Benson Abonu said the issue of herdsmen attacking communities should not be treated with levity because “There is more than meet the eye” over the issue going by the manner of execution the attack.

    According to him, the attacking herdsmen were seen in black uniforms.

    He said the State government has only one position on the solution to the issue, which iscattle ranching.
    Number of those killed in the incidents however varied with MUT puttng it at 500, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) puts its own figure at 300 in its presentation while the IGP said the police can only find three.

    The Committee however tasked the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to step up its responsibility by identifying Fulanis that aren’t Nigerians.

    The Committee also want the attacking herdsmen to be recognized as terrorists to enable the State subject them to the laws of the land.

    Representatives of Miyetti Allah failed again to attend the second day of the hearing before it was adjourned indefinitely.

     

  • 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.