Essential Ndubuisi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has expressed his disappointment with the governor-elect, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia’s recent comments on salaries and pensions in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Ortom stated that Alia’s statement was unfortunate. He noted that the state civil service had not been on strike during his tenure and that his administration had ensured equity and fairness in all activities of the government.
Recall that Governor-elect Alia had, in a recent interview with state House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that workers in Benue were being owed a backlog of salaries and pensions. He also added that Ortom’s administration had left the state in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Reacting to Alia’s statement, Ortom stated that the governor-elect was no longer a Reverend Father because he had been suspended from the priesthood, and he felt sad about what he said.
The governor further explained that when he took over the leadership of the state in 2015, the total salaries arrears, pensions, and gratuities were over N70 billion. The Federal Government intervened, and the government paid the workers. However, he added that there were issues because people alleged that there was a diversion of funds.
Ortom further noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) cleared his administration of any wrongdoing. Despite this, the remaining balance of about N42 billion was still pending, as politics prevented the money from being released.
According to Ortom, the APC government wants to take advantage of what his administration has on the ground to clear off the arrears.
