ORTOM ASSURES OF AMICABLE RESOLUTION OF BSU CHARGES PROBLEM
Governor Samuel Ortom has assured students of the Benue State University that issues surrounding the recent increase in the institution’s conditional charges would soon be amicably resolved.
Speaking on a special edition of the Radio Benue current affairs audience participatory programme, Issues of the Moment, today, the Governor said he had directed the Council of the University to review the rates appropriately and that already, the Council was holding a meeting for that purpose.
He expressed confidence that the University Council would resolve the issues at the end of the meeting but that if it could not, he would be briefed for necessary intervention.
According to him his administration was committed to ensuring that Benue State University ran its academic programmes without interruption hence his decision to pay staff of the Institution up-to-date despite the economic challenges.
He however expressed worry over information at his disposal that some outsiders had taken advantage of the situation to infiltrate the ranks of the students to create confusion, urging that such influence should be rejected.
Governor Ortom who noted that education was one of the best legacies parents and the government should bequeath to children emphasized that his administration would continue to treat the provision of quality and affordable education to the people as a priority.
He lamented the challenges occasioned by the poor state of the economy, which he stressed was not friendly to anyone but that as the situation improved, government would continue to do its best to make quality education affordable to the Benue.
Speaking on a special edition of the Radio Benue current affairs audience participatory programme, Issues of the Moment, today, the Governor said he had directed the Council of the University to review the rates appropriately and that already, the Council was holding a meeting for that purpose.
He expressed confidence that the University Council would resolve the issues at the end of the meeting but that if it could not, he would be briefed for necessary intervention.
According to him his administration was committed to ensuring that Benue State University ran its academic programmes without interruption hence his decision to pay staff of the Institution up-to-date despite the economic challenges.
He however expressed worry over information at his disposal that some outsiders had taken advantage of the situation to infiltrate the ranks of the students to create confusion, urging that such influence should be rejected.
Governor Ortom who noted that education was one of the best legacies parents and the government should bequeath to children emphasized that his administration would continue to treat the provision of quality and affordable education to the people as a priority.
He lamented the challenges occasioned by the poor state of the economy, which he stressed was not friendly to anyone but that as the situation improved, government would continue to do its best to make quality education affordable to the Benue.
… URGES THE PEOPLE TO BLOW THE WHISLE
Governor Ortom urged the people of the state to always feel free to point out any genuine case of wrong-doing in his administration.
Reacting to allegation of diversion of the bailout fund, the Governor said his administration has not reneged on its promise to uphold the virtues of transparency, accountability, justice, and integrity, saying he had warned public officers that the public searchlight would be on them in the same way it was focusing on the activities of the immediate past administration.
The Governor said the N12. 5 billion bailout fund for the state workers was disbursed successfully while a balance of N1.6 billion from the fund, saved after the staff audit was used in funding the state Sustainable Development Goals projects.
He explained that N37 million from the bailout fund was released twice to the office of the State Deputy Governor who is the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club for payment of two months’ salary arrears for the management and players of the state-owned football club.
Governor Ortom said the local government’s N15.5 billion naira share of the bailout fund was also successfully disbursed leaving a balance of N1.6 billion in the account of the Bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
The Governor explained that in disbursing the funds, government carried out a staff audit to ascertain genuine workers and at the same time created a platform for those with genuine complaints to sort them out with a committee set up for that purpose saying those crying foul were the ones who had failed to prove their genuineness.
Also speaking, Special Adviser on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Titus Zam, said only 54 staff with issues have forwarded their complaints recently.
Mr. Zam said the Bureau was abiding by the Governor’s instruction that everyone should live above board and they were determined to stand by their oath of office promising that under the watch of the Governor, no money would be diverted.
Reacting to allegation of diversion of the bailout fund, the Governor said his administration has not reneged on its promise to uphold the virtues of transparency, accountability, justice, and integrity, saying he had warned public officers that the public searchlight would be on them in the same way it was focusing on the activities of the immediate past administration.
The Governor said the N12. 5 billion bailout fund for the state workers was disbursed successfully while a balance of N1.6 billion from the fund, saved after the staff audit was used in funding the state Sustainable Development Goals projects.
He explained that N37 million from the bailout fund was released twice to the office of the State Deputy Governor who is the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club for payment of two months’ salary arrears for the management and players of the state-owned football club.
Governor Ortom said the local government’s N15.5 billion naira share of the bailout fund was also successfully disbursed leaving a balance of N1.6 billion in the account of the Bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
The Governor explained that in disbursing the funds, government carried out a staff audit to ascertain genuine workers and at the same time created a platform for those with genuine complaints to sort them out with a committee set up for that purpose saying those crying foul were the ones who had failed to prove their genuineness.
Also speaking, Special Adviser on local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Titus Zam, said only 54 staff with issues have forwarded their complaints recently.
Mr. Zam said the Bureau was abiding by the Governor’s instruction that everyone should live above board and they were determined to stand by their oath of office promising that under the watch of the Governor, no money would be diverted.
EFCC INVESTIGATING DIVERTED MILLING MACHINES – ORTOM
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigation into alleged diversion of 10 rice milling machines belonging to the state by the immediate past Governor, Gabriel Suswam.
Governor Ortom said the machines were donated to the state government by the Korean government after the 2012 flood in the state.
He alleged that of some top officials of the immediate past government has a lot of cases to answer before the EFCC following their activities that have brought the state government to its present political and economic quagmire.
Governor Ortom accused his predecessor and 51 other persons of defrauding the state to the tune of N107 billion.
He said in addition, records indicate that the former Governor collected N450 million as arrears of overhead, two days to his leaving office, wondering where overheads were paid in arrears.
The Governor lamented that his predecessor could collect such huge amounts of money for himself when the same amount of money could have addressed the accreditation needs of the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery.
He said spurious allegations being leveled against his administration by those who brought the state to its knees were meant to divert attention of the public from the ills of the immediate past administration and challenged his predecessor to explain to people of the state what he did with the huge state resources he was in control as Governor rather than playing to the gallery.
The Governor dismissed rumours making the rounds that a team from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, was in the state to investigate his administration over alleged diversion of the bailout fund.
Throwing more light on the issue, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Michael Gusa, said ICPC has not accused the state government of diverting the bailout fund but was only working on records submitted to it on the disbursement of the fund.
Mr. Gusa said the Ortom administration was maintaining its zero tolerance for corruption and as such, all records concerning its finances were kept for public scrutiny and appealed to the public to always seek clarification on issues whenever in doubt.
Governor Ortom said the machines were donated to the state government by the Korean government after the 2012 flood in the state.
He alleged that of some top officials of the immediate past government has a lot of cases to answer before the EFCC following their activities that have brought the state government to its present political and economic quagmire.
Governor Ortom accused his predecessor and 51 other persons of defrauding the state to the tune of N107 billion.
He said in addition, records indicate that the former Governor collected N450 million as arrears of overhead, two days to his leaving office, wondering where overheads were paid in arrears.
The Governor lamented that his predecessor could collect such huge amounts of money for himself when the same amount of money could have addressed the accreditation needs of the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery.
He said spurious allegations being leveled against his administration by those who brought the state to its knees were meant to divert attention of the public from the ills of the immediate past administration and challenged his predecessor to explain to people of the state what he did with the huge state resources he was in control as Governor rather than playing to the gallery.
The Governor dismissed rumours making the rounds that a team from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, was in the state to investigate his administration over alleged diversion of the bailout fund.
Throwing more light on the issue, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Michael Gusa, said ICPC has not accused the state government of diverting the bailout fund but was only working on records submitted to it on the disbursement of the fund.
Mr. Gusa said the Ortom administration was maintaining its zero tolerance for corruption and as such, all records concerning its finances were kept for public scrutiny and appealed to the public to always seek clarification on issues whenever in doubt.
… SAYS IGUMALE CEMENT FACTORY TO BE COMPLETED SOON
The Igumale Cement Factory soon would soon be completed.
Governor Ortom gave this indication today while interacting with the people on the benefits the State stands to gain from his recent business trip to the Republic of China on Radio Benue.
Governor Ortom stated that the equipment for the plant have been fabricated and were ready for shipping to the state from China.
The Governor said contract for the construction of the access road to the factory has been awarded while government was working out modalities to secure mining license for the factory as well as expartriate quota for the core investor.
He said Benue State has also signed an agreement with a Chinese tractor manufacturing company for the establishment of a Tractor Assembly Plant in the State saying the company’s representatives already had a tricycle warehouse in Makurdi.
The Governor said during the China visit the state’s delegation had series of bilateral meetings and wide consultations with the business community in China whose members have indicated interest to invest in the state.
He also announced that the investor in the Igumale Cement Plant has also indicated interest in the utilisation of the coal in Owukpa, in Ogbadibo Local Government, to generate power and also invest in steel production.
He noted that the Chinese business environment was the same with that of developing countries three decades ago before China got their present breakthrough in all sectors promising that lessons from the trip would be replicated in the State.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Tersoo Kpelai, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Development, Dr Bem Meladu, who were also in China said the trip provided inspiration for a new direction in economic growth, while the forum anchored by Governor Ortom for the North Central States attracted a lot of respect for the Governor Ortom and Benue State.
In his contribution, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ode Ageh, acknowledged the acceptability of the administration by people of the State and beyond and called for its sustenance.
Governor Ortom gave this indication today while interacting with the people on the benefits the State stands to gain from his recent business trip to the Republic of China on Radio Benue.
Governor Ortom stated that the equipment for the plant have been fabricated and were ready for shipping to the state from China.
The Governor said contract for the construction of the access road to the factory has been awarded while government was working out modalities to secure mining license for the factory as well as expartriate quota for the core investor.
He said Benue State has also signed an agreement with a Chinese tractor manufacturing company for the establishment of a Tractor Assembly Plant in the State saying the company’s representatives already had a tricycle warehouse in Makurdi.
The Governor said during the China visit the state’s delegation had series of bilateral meetings and wide consultations with the business community in China whose members have indicated interest to invest in the state.
He also announced that the investor in the Igumale Cement Plant has also indicated interest in the utilisation of the coal in Owukpa, in Ogbadibo Local Government, to generate power and also invest in steel production.
He noted that the Chinese business environment was the same with that of developing countries three decades ago before China got their present breakthrough in all sectors promising that lessons from the trip would be replicated in the State.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Tersoo Kpelai, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Development, Dr Bem Meladu, who were also in China said the trip provided inspiration for a new direction in economic growth, while the forum anchored by Governor Ortom for the North Central States attracted a lot of respect for the Governor Ortom and Benue State.
In his contribution, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ode Ageh, acknowledged the acceptability of the administration by people of the State and beyond and called for its sustenance.
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