Tag: Benue

Gov. Samuel Ortom on Friday in Zaki-Biam, commissioned the 47.7 km Zaki-Biam-Afia/Gbeji road estimated at N3.8b in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

Ortom was on an inspection tour of projects undertaken by his administration, cited within the Sankera axis of Benue North East Senatorial District of the state.

He had earlier inaugurated the renovated Central Primary School and Mbaton -Amaafu electricity projects cited in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

Performing the two ceremonies in Katsina-Ala local government area and Zaki Ibiam in Ukum and local government area, Ortom disclosed that there were “numerous projects scattered across the State awaiting to be commissioned”.

He said he would commission all the projects in the coming days, adding that the school projects were executed with counterpart funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

On the the Zaki/-Ibiam -Afia/ Gbeji road, the governor said the project would boost the socio-economic wellbeing of the entire people of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

He commended the senator, representing Benue North East, Gabriel Suswam, for initiating the road project in 2008, when he was governor of the state.

Recounting his achievements, Ortom said his administration had already built and renovated over 1000 blocks of classrooms, procured over 70,000 desks and chairs for primary school pupils.

He disclosed that the state had another N4 billion ready for the execution of more school projects in the State.

“For me I felt that there was no need wasting money for the commissioning of projects but since I have been accused of not executing any projects, I have decided to go round the state and commission them. I have many completed projects.

“Our aim is for the primary schools, which is the basic foundation for learning, should be the strongest sector in the education sector.”

Ortom said that his administration had approved another round of amnesty to the youths in Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

He, however, warned that those who might refuse to submit their arms this time would face dire consequences.
“I have accepted your appeal for a second round of amnesty Programme for the youths in this area. So let them bring out their weapons and submit, else, I will come after them with full force.

“The Sankera people have suffered so much. Nothing is going on here especially in the villages. I want to assure you that nothing will happen to those that submit their arms by the grace of God”.

Earlier, Sen. Suswam commended Ortom over his achievements in education, stressing that he was creating a conducive atmosphere for the educational sector in spite of lean resources.

“I have been through this and I know what it means to embark on projects of this nature at this time. In spite of distractions, the governor is forging ahead. I will stand with him till the end of his tenure because he is doing what is right,” the former governor said.

The Commissioner for Works, Transport and Energy, Alexander Shapera, said the road contract, which was awarded in 2008 was at some point abandoned before Ortom completed it.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyar, said Ortom had spent over N20 billion in the primary school sector alone since assumption of office.

The Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB, Mr Joseph Utse, said Benue Government had approved the construction of 1000 block of classrooms, renovation of 99 blocks and the procurement of 42, 350 plastic desk and chairs for 2020.

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says the state government will continue to implement its policies and programmes in line with the bidding of the people who elected him in 2019 for second term.

Ortom stated this in Makurdi on Monday when retired Controller of Prisons Iorbee Ihagh, the President-General, Tiv socio-cultural group, Mzough-U-Tiv’s, led other executive members on a courtesy visit to government house.

“I will do only those things that please Benue people because they elected me.

“I wonder why some people outside Benue blame me for doing what my people want.

“My loyalty remains with my people. With the support they have given me, I owe them good governance,” he said.

The governor further advised Benue residents to engage in meaningful economic activities that will enhance their standard of living as “spending precious time in pastimes such as drinking of alcohol is not profitable.

“Drinking of alcohol will not profit anybody rather it will cause damage to the body.

“Benue residents do not have any reason to be idling away to the extent of drinking alcohol in the early hours of the day.

“We cannot continue like this. It is not the best way to go. We need to use our quality time to do things that will enhance our income.

“A lot of opportunities abound in Benue. Our arable land alone if judiciously put to use can turn things around for us,” the governor said.

He further assured the Tiv socio-cultural group that it should count on his support in worthy causes including defence of the Tiv nation.

Earlier, Ihagh said that Tiv people were predominantly farmers, stressing that their greatest challenge was activities of herdsmen displacing them from their ancestral homes.

He added that the people no longer concentrated on their farming activities.

He, however, commended the governor for signing the Anti-Open Grazing bill into law.

He said that the law had brought respite to farmers in most communities that were experiencing incessant attacks on them and their farms by herdsmen, describing the action of Ortom as “no mean feat.”

He pledged the organisation’s unflinching support to the present administration in the state.

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Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised both current and former appointees in the state to always appear before investigative panels, when invited.

Ortom gave the advice on Tuesday in Makurdi when the Committee saddled with the responsibility of investigating the current state of the State Teaching Service Board (TSB) presented its report to him.

The governor said that when they fail to make such appearance before investigative panels, they would be doing a lot of disservice to themselves.

“You will be doing yourselves a lot of disservice when you are invited to come and make explanation on an issue or issues concerning you and you fail to turn up.

“The panel avails you the opportunity to come and clear the doubts about you, but if you fail to appear, whatever the outcome may be, it will be assumed right,” he said.

Ortom said that by appearing before such panels, they would have the opportunity to plead for pardon, where necessary, and could be given a second chance.

“I believe in the rule of law. I also believe in following due process. The state government will take a critical look at the findings of the report and take action,” he said.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to Ortom on Education, Dr Sarwuan Tarnongo, intimated the governor of some of the findings.

The adviser said that the board had six directorates which ought to be pruned down to three.

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has cautioned Nigerian youth against following footsteps of corrupt leaders in the country.

Ortom disclosed this when the Benue Youth Parliament paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Makurdi.

He expressed regret that many leaders were full of deceit, stressing that lies had taken over the leadership in the country.

“Leaders pay lip service to issues. They do not even respect the rule of law. The rule of law is selective. A big shame for us who are leaders. I pray God to help us,” he said.

He admonished youths not to take after them, by not allowing greed into their lives.

The governor said he hated dealing with sycophants and people who did not tell him the truth.

”I like to be criticized but it should be constructive criticism,” he said.

Ortom charged them to use their time to indulge in things that would benefit them and the society and not to indulge in ungodly acts.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mrs Ladi Ajene, applauded Ortom for involving youths in governance by curbing unemployment among the youths.

“He employed over 5,000 youths at the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) as well as hundreds of them as lecturers at the Benue State University, Makurdi,” he said.

Majority Leader, Benue Youth Parliament, Mr John-Mark Tyonongo, appealed to the governor to give 40 per cent of appointments to the youths.

A member of the National Youth Parliament, Dr Timothy Ashibi, said they were advocating for a North Central Development Commission which would be saddled with the task of resettling displaced persons.

The President-General, Tiv Youth Organization, Mr Timothy Hembaor, appealed to Ortom to involve the youths in the security committee.

The Minority Whip, Benue Assembly, Mr Cephas Dyako, called on the governor to give more attention to the agricultural sector, stressing that if that was done, most of the challenges faced by youths would be solved.