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Tag: Benue

  • Ortom apologises to Benue pensioners over N20bn arrears

    Ortom apologises to Benue pensioners over N20bn arrears

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, on Friday, met with the protesting pensioners in the state, promising to release N611million to complete the payment of their April and May 2018 pensions, out of 25 months or N20 billion owed.

    The governor, who met the aggrieved pensioners at the entrance of the Government House in Makurdi where they had been sleeping in the last three days, said that the delay in the payment of their pensions was not deliberate.

    The pensioners stormed the Government House on Wednesday, to protest the non-payment of their pension allowances and gratuities which spanned 25 months.

    Ortom explained to the senior citizens that his administration inherited unpaid pension allowances of over N34 billion, with outstanding gratuities of over N17 billion.

    He said although his administration was able to make significant efforts in the payment of the arrears of pension and gratuities, government was still owing over N20 billion.

    The governor said that his administration would have to seek for an overdraft of N611 million to be able to complete the shortfalls from the April and May 2018, assuring that the money would be paid latest by September 10.

    He further explained this his administration has also moved a step further by signing into law the PENCOM Bill and constituting the state pension commission as one of the ways of finding lasting solutions to the issue of pension and gratuities.

    He said that government would continue to source for funds to meet its obligations to the citizens, especially the senior ones.

    Ortom formally apologized to the senior citizens over the inability of the government to pay them their entitlement as and when due.

    He told protesting pensioners that he was not happy with government’s inability to pay them their entitlements and promised to continue to source for funds to meet their demands.

    The governor said that government was working on getting a N40 billion bond to address some of the challenges currently facing the state.

    “I am very ashamed before all of you and as a state, that I, as a governor, am seeing the precarious situation you are all in today.

    “I have no reason to justify our inability to pay you your entitlements. Some of you are receiving very small amounts. We will look for ways to resolve this problem,” he said.

    The Chairman of Concerned Pensioners, Mr Peter lkyado, expressed appreciation to the governor for taking time to meet them and urged him to quickly meet their demands as promised.

    He said that the pensioners were not happy over the non-payment of their pension allowances and gratuities which had accumulated to 25 months.

    Ikyado also said that his members were demanding for the harmonisation of their pensions in line with the new salary structure in the state.

    He explained that as senior citizens, they were supposed to be placed on first line charge, but regretted that the reverse has been the case since the beginning of the Ortom-led administration.

    Some of the pensioners insisted that they would not leave the entrance to the Government House where they had been protesting since Wednesday until their demands were met.

    The senior citizens were seen lying on their mats, hours after their meeting with the governor.

  • Two Benue civil servants remanded for N12m fraud

    Two Benue civil servants remanded for N12m fraud

    A Makurdi Magistrates′ Court in Benue state has remanded two civil servants in prison custody for alleged criminal conspiracy and fraud of N12 million.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Ajuma Igama, did not take the plea of the defendants. She ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till Nov 16 for further mention.

    Sgt. Ato Godwin, the Prosecutor, told the court that the defendants, John Agbo and David Terseer, both of the State Ministry of Agriculture, were arrested following a written complaint against them. Godwin told the court that the complaint came from Dr. Chris Terhumba of Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue.

    The letter stated that the accused persons deceived him to deliver the sum of N12 million into the Ministry of Agriculture Salary Account No: 0025386205 so as to supply him with 3,000 bags of fertiliser.

    “Unfortunately they used the money and never supplied the products,” he said.

    Sgt. Ato, said that the duo confessed to the crime when arrested and interrogated by the police. He mentioned that an investigation was still in progress and asked the court for another date for mention. He said the offence contravened Section 1(3) and 8(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2005

  • Benue evacuates students from Taraba varsity after killing

    Benue evacuates students from Taraba varsity after killing

    The Benue Government announced on Wednesday that it had commenced the evacuation of Benue State students at the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba.
    The evacuation followed the closure of the university after the alleged killing of two Benue students in the institution on July 30 by people suspected to be members of the Jukun militia.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of people have been killed over the years in recurring communal clashes between ethnic Jukun and Tivs in the agricultural belt of Northern Nigeria.
    The bloody conflict has taken its toll on the two ethnic groups with many lives lost and property estimated at millions of naira destroyed.
    Speaking in a telephone interview with a NAN correspondent in Makurdi on Wednesday, the Benue Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, said the evacuation of the students was due to the closure of the university.
    He said that relevant security operatives and the government of Taraba had been notified about the evacuation.
    Ityavyar said that the Benue Government was hopeful that the Taraba Government would provide adequate security for all Benue citizens, including students residing in Taraba.
    He said the Benue Government had since started making arrangements to provide for the needs of Benue students affected by the crisis.
    “The Government of Benue State has contacted the Government of Taraba State, police commissioner, the army and other security formations in Taraba State to ensure the safety of Benue State indigenes in Taraba State.
    The commissioner appealed to Taraba indigenes schooling in Benue to remain calm, assuring that the Benue Government was on top of the situation to ensure safety for everyone.
    “There should be no panic moment of students of Taraba State origin who are schooling in Benue State. We are on top of the situation,” he stated.
    Benue and Taraba Governments have held series of meetings over the years to find a lasting solution to the crisis but the killings have not abated.

  • Benue guber: Appeal Court dismisses Ortom’s appeal on motions

    Benue guber: Appeal Court dismisses Ortom’s appeal on motions

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi on Friday dismissed appeals by Gov. Samuel Ortom, INEC and PDP against the decision of the Benue Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to reserve all rulings on applications till final judgement on the main petition.
    The appellants are respondents in the petition filed by Mr Emmanuel Jime of APC before the tribunal challenging the election of Ortom in the 2019 governorship election in Benue.
    The tribunal chaired by Justice Henry Olusiyi had decided to reserve all rulings on applications by parties in the petition until the final judgement on the petition.
    The applications bordered on the status of additional witnesses that the party sought to bring
    The petitioners argued that all additional witnesses participated in the electoral process and were competent to testify at the tribunal.
    One of the additional witnesses is a former Attorney-General of Benue, Mr Joe Abaagu, through whom, the petitioners tendered vital documents, including voters’ register and card readers.
    The respondents, however, rejected the additional witnesses, saying they were not listed as witnesses in the petition and should not be allowed to testify.
    The court said it had reserved ruling on the status of Abaagu until the final determination of the petition.
    The respondents, who were dissatisfied with the ruling, approached the appellate court, seeking an order compelling the tribunal to make its ruling on the status of the witness.
    They argued that reserving ruling on applications to the final judgement on the petition amounted to breach of fair hearing.
    Delivering ruling on the appeals, Justice Jummai Sankey said that the appellants failed to show cause on how their right to fair hearing was breached.
    Sankey said that the appellants’ claims of denial of fair hearing were speculative, pointing out that speculation had no place in law.
    She declared the appeals as lacking in merit and dismissed them.

  • NNPC begins oil exploration in Benue

    NNPC begins oil exploration in Benue

    The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will commence oil exploration in Benue state next month.

    As the exploration begins, the Benue State Government has assured management and staff of security and safety of its staff.

    Governor Samuel Ortom gave the assurance at the Government House, Makurdi when the NNPC exploration team led by Dorathy Umoetok, Executive Director, Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) visited him.

    Represented by his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu, Ortom said the government would put in place the needed security measures to guarantee the safety and unhindered work of the team.

    He expressed delight Benue State constitutes 70 percent of the area in the Benue believed to contain hydrocarbon and called on people of the state, particularly residents of Makurdi, Guma, Ohimini, Gwer West, Apa, Agatu and Otukpo local government areas where the exploration work will take place to receive the team warmly and avail them of every assistance.

    Ortom, who charged traditional rulers and council chairmen from the affected areas to help provide the needed peaceful atmosphere for the team to work, warned the government would deal squarely with anyone or group of people in any community that constitute obstacle to the exploration work.

    NNPC’s team leader, Dorathy Umoetok explained the visit was a follow-up to a previous exercise by the out-going NNPC Group Managing Director Engr. Dr Maikanti Baru last year to seek the guarantee of the safety and security of the lives of the exploration team so that they could commence work.

    Umoetok, who expressed joy that the security situation in the state has changed tremendously, said the atmosphere is now good for exploration work.

    He disclosed the NNPC has already concluded the aerial surveillance, drawn the aerial maps, and done the interpretation and other activities leading to the actual exploration.

    She said the NNPC does not toy with the safety and security of members of its team, and solicited from the government and traditional rulers in the 7 local government areas a guarantee of their safety and security, assuring that the communities have many things to gain from the partnership with them.

    Speaking for the traditional rulers, the Tor-Lobi, Chief Moses Anagende and the Aganwu of Apa/Agatu Intermediate Area, Chief Baba Odangla, pledged the full support and cooperation of the traditional institution and the people to the team.

  • Killings: Benue rejects FG’s ‘RUGA’ settlement for herdsmen

    The Benue State Government has rejected the proposed RUGA settlement for herdsmen by the Federal Government in the State.

    The state’s decision was revealed in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor Terver Akase.

    The statement decried the action of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, which it said was attempting to subvert the right of a State to make laws for the governance of their people

    The statement read: It has become necessary to make the position of the government and people of Benue State abundantly clear on the Ruga settlements for herdsmen being implemented by the Federal Government across the states including Benue.

    A few weeks ago, the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture with his team in Benue State informed officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture that he had received directives from the Ministry’s headquarters Abuja to establish Ruga which means ‘Fulani settlement’ in parts of the State.

    The Director stated that the local government areas selected for the Ruga settlements were Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum.

    The Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Agriculture drew the attention of the Director and his team to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 being implemented in the state. When they were also reminded about the Land Use Act which confers on the Governor the powers to administer lands in all parts of the State, officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture left with a promise to relay the message to their headquarters.

    “They surprisingly returned a few days later with contractors to commence work on the Ruga settlements.”

    We find the approach of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture not only as a gross violation of the Ranching law but also as an insult to the sensibilities of the entire people of Benue State.

    “It could be recalled that the people and government of Benue State rejected cattle colonies and still reject the policy in whichever robes it is disguised.”

    “Governor Samuel Ortom made the stand of Benue State known during the unveiling of the Livestock Development Programme in Abuja last year. He stressed that the State would embrace the policy only if it supports implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.”

    “The Governor also insisted that Benue State has no land for open grazing of cattle and he restated ranching as a lasting solution to the incessant herders and farmers crisis which the country ought to embrace.”

    “Governor Ortom made similar presentations at different fora to buttress why open grazing of livestock is not feasible in a densely populated country with over 200 million people”

    “During the National Council on Agriculture summit which took place in Owerri, Imo State in April this year, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture attempted to impose Ruga settlement patterns on the states but the Benue State delegation seized the opportunity to remind the summit that Benue State has a law on ranching which has phased out open grazing. No one at the summit put forth an alternative method of animal husbandry to counter the state’s presentation.”

    “It would also be recalled that the National Economic Council, NEC, had also unanimously adopted ranching as the best method of livestock breeding for the country. It is therefore shocking to see the Federal Government turning round to establish Fulani herdsmen settlements in some states including Benue, contrary to the position of NEC.”

    “We wish to remind those pushing for Ruga settlements that the Constitution of the country gives states the right to make laws for the governance of their people. Any attempt to subvert such right is a direct attack on the Constitution. Those behind such a move are enemies of peace and progress.”

    “The Government of Benue State is willing to support cattle owners to establish ranches as stipulated by the law prohibiting open grazing.”

    “We, however, wish to reiterate that Benue State has no land for grazing reserves, grazing routes, cattle colonies or ruga settlements.”

  • Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Benue assure workers of readiness to pay N30,000 minimum wage

    Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) have assured workers of their readiness to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    They spoke Thursday at different fora on the minimum wage, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari

    Fayemi said the welfare of the workers had always been his concern, stressing that his government would pay the minimum wage for effective and efficient service delivery.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) delegates’ conference, where Olatunde Kolapo was elected as the new chairman of the state NLC.

    He said the newly elected leadership of the trade unions would be invited soon for a meeting on the modalities to ensure the payment.

    He announced that facilities at government offices would be upgraded and conducive environment would be provided to ensure the optimal performance of workers.

    At the event, NLC National President Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by an ex-officio, Maureen Onyia-Ekwuazi, stated that the workers would not accept any minimum wage that is less than N30,000 from the governors.

    Wabba said the new minimum wage has become binding, having been signed into law by the President, stressing that the excuses by some governors that they would not be able to pay was not tenable.

    But, Akeredolu pleaded with the Federal Government to review the present revenue sharing formula to enable states to cope with the new increment.

    He spoke through the Head of Service (HoS) Toyin Akinkuotu during the election of Mr. Sunday Adeleye as the state NLC Chairman.

    The governor said: “We are not against the new minimum wage and if we are not against it, we are in support. Our prayer is that the Federal Government should look into the revenue allocation sharing formula, by giving more money to states and local governments to enable them to implement the new minimum wage”.

    Congratulating the new NLC executives, the governor, who hailed the peaceful conduct of the election, advised workers to cooperate with the new executives.

    To Ortom, workers deserved more than N30,000 minimum wage if funds were available to pay.

    The governor said consultations would soon begin towards successful implementation of the new wage.

    The governor, however, called on the Federal Government to review the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of states to facilitate the smooth implementation of the new wage.

    He spoke at the JS Tarka Foundation, Makurdi while opening the Benue State NLC Council delegates’ conference.

    Ortom urged those that would be elected at the conference to brace and provide selfless service to the organised labour, stressing that they should be servant leaders.

    Ahmed said his administration was also committed to paying the new minimum wage.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications Dr. Muyideen Akorede said “in this regard, the government set up a committee headed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Susan, to work out the modalities and sources of revenue for the payment months before the President signed the new minimum wage into law”.

    “The committee is expected to submit its report to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed next two weeks,” the media aide said.

    Ahmed said the state government did not owe core civil servants any salary arrears.

    But, he stated that the state government is owing junior secondary school teachers and local government workers some months’ salaries.

    The state is claiming that the junior teachers and council workers are in the payroll of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Teachers under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Teachers have blamed their predicament on Nigerian Union of Teachers’ (NUT) leaders.

    The group said the NUT leaders had mortgaged the welfare and interest of its members.

  • Benue Govt. imposes curfew on Katsina-Ala

    The Benue Government on Monday imposed a 24 hours curfew on Katsina-Ala town in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Acting Governor Mr Ede Ogaba and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

    Ogaba said the curfew which is with immediate effect would be reviewed as the situation demands.

    “The Benue State Government has imposed a 24 hour curfew on Katsina-Ala with effect from today, Monday April 22, as part of efforts to restore peace and ensure the security of lives and property in that part of the state,” he said.

    Ogaba quoted the acting governor Benson Abounu as urging the people of the area to cooperate with security operatives by obeying the curfew.

    “Government warns that anyone found fomenting trouble in the area or in other parts of the state will be apprehended and punished according to law.

    “Government reassures the people that more security personnel have been deployed to Katsina-Ala to end the crisis, and it will continue to give security agencies every needed support to succeed,” he said.

  • Supplementary polls: APC rejects Benue, Sokoto governorship results

    Supplementary polls: APC rejects Benue, Sokoto governorship results

    The Sokoto State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday rejected the declaration of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal as winner of the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Tambuwal winner of the election after Saturday’s supplementary with a narrow margin of 342 votes.

    The Chief Collation/Returning Officer, Fatima Mukhtar, said Mr Tambuwal of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured the highest votes of 512, 002, defeating his close rival Ahmad Aliyu of APC, who polled 511, 660 votes.

    Addressing a press conference in Sokoto, the APC’s spokeman, Bello Danchadi, rejected the declaration on the ground that the process was flawed with irregularities, which he said were duly reported to electoral body.

    Mr Danchadi said the margin of 342 votes was far less than the registered voters in polling units where elections were not held, a development which he said contravened the electoral law.

    He said the party had also registered its complaints to INE, which included alleged outright rigging perpetrated by the PDP.

    He alleged that some eligible voters at some polling centres were denied voting, and in some places repeated votings were recorded.

    “We draw the attention of INEC to a number of polling units that were canceled as result of violent attacks by thugs, while others were arbitrarily canceled to please certain political party interests.

    “In view of these we deem it necessary to express our disagreement with the action taken by INEC to declare a winner without giving us a fair hearing in our position in the electoral processes, ” he said.

    Benue

    Meanwhile, the Benue chapter of the APC also rejected the outcome of the governorship election declared on Sunday, in favour of Gov Samuel Ortom of the PDP.

    The party said in a statement on Sunday in Makurdi that the results did not reflect the wishes of the people.

    The statement signed by Eugene Aliegba, Secretary Jime/Ode Campaign Organisation, said that APC would challenge the results in court.

    Mr Ortom polled 434,473 votes to defeat his closest rival, Emmanuel Jime of the APC, who polled 345,155 votes.

    The statement declared that the outcome of the poll was “totally unacceptable to the APC”.

    It, however, thanked those who voted for Mr Jime and Sam Ode, the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the election, and prayed God to reward them for their trust and confidence in the team.

    “When we embarked on this journey many months ago, it was to translate to reality the dreams of a better future for our suffering people.

    “We toured the entire state and made our case for wealth creation through agriculture, education reforms, infrastructure development and a welfare package for our senior citizens.

    “We told our people of our plans for improved capacity and welfare for civil servants, and a health policy that covers all Benue residents.

    “Our messages resonated with the electorate because they could tell that our projects were about service, not hinged on intent to occupy office for the sake of it.

    “But, even as the results declared did not appear to reflect the will of most of these same people, we call on our supporters to remain calm and law abiding as they had been throughout the campaigns and electioneering period.

    “They have our full assurance that as a party that believes in democracy, we will not accept a stolen election,” it added.

    The statement implored the party faithful not to waver in their trust on the party to reclaim is mandate.

    “Going into this contest, we were well aware of the fact that only one of two outcomes was possible – either we win fairly in line with the massive support we earned from the people, or another winner emerges through a credible and transparent process.

    “We did not anticipate a third option that confers advantage to those who play dubiously outside the laid down rules of the game,” he said.

    “We will make a case before the Elections Petitions Tribunal to subject the Benue governorship elections result to an integrity test. If we opt otherwise, we will be as guilty as those who undertake acts that undermine democracy.

    “We have chosen to take action that insulates democracy from practices that threaten it,” the statement said.

    The party, therefore, urged its members and well-wishers to remain calm and refrain from acts that would jeopardise the existing peace in the state.

     

  • Supplementary polls: Gov Ortom leads in 9 of 13 LGA’s of Benue

    Supplementary polls: Gov Ortom leads in 9 of 13 LGA’s of Benue

    Gov Samuel Ortom of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won in 9 of 13 Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in the supplementary polls held on Saturday.

    Results from nine councils will be announced today.

    The results of 13 councils as announced by various INEC Collation Officers on Sunday in Makurdi showed Ortom won Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo, Gwer West, Buruku, Ukum, Kwande, Logo and Ushongo while Mr Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Tarka, Otukpo, Makurdi and Ohimini LGA’s.

    Ortom polled 144 votes in Agatu as against Jime’s zero vote.

    In Apa LGA, the APC candidate polled 176 votes while Ortom’s PDP garnered 296 votes to win the election in the local government area whereas in Otukpo the APC polled 255 votes to defeat PDP with 250 votes.

    In Ogbadibo the PDP won with 467 votes while the APC scored 241 votes. In Ohimini APC polled 2,223 as against PDP’s 192 votes.

    In Gwer West, APC has 137 votes, PDP 481 votes,

    APC polled 550 votes in Makurdi, while PDP got 182 votes. The PDP prevailed in Buriku, winning 515 votes to APC’s 189 votes.

    In Tarka, APC polled 409 votes and the PDP 202 votes, while in Logo, APC scored 34 votes to the PDP’s 651 votes.

    The results showed that in Ukum, APC got 65 votes, the PDP won 616 votes, while in Kwande, the PDP got 193 votes, leaving the APC with just 3 votes.

    In Ushongo LGA, the PDP polled 352 votes to defeat APC with 94 votes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the results of the polls in nine more local government areas were being awaited.

    INEC will resume the announcement of results at 10 am on Sunday.

    Before the supplementary election, Ortom had 410,576 votes, while Jime of APC had 329,022 votes..