… pays highest wage bill in northern Nigeria
By Hassan Zaggi
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that his government inherited a whooping pension and salary arrears of N70 billion.
Speaking while featuring on TVC News ‘Journalist Hangout’, on Sunday, which was monitored by our correspondent in Abuja,, the Governor however, said that his government has been able to reduce the pension and salary arrears to 40 billion naira.
Gov Ortom, however, disclosed that the Benue State government is currently paying the highest wage bill in Northern Nigeria which has compounded the issue of salary payment.
He reiterated that Benue State, which is predominantly an agrarian state, has the highest wage bill in the northern region ranking after Lagos and Rivers State.
The governor, noted that his administration has been able to reduce the burden of unpaid salaries in the state.
He also decried what he described as the lawlessness that has engulfed the nation, regretting that Nigerians were living in distress.
Governor Ortom noted that despite the paucity of funds, his administration was working assiduously to clear outstanding salaries, stressing that with the domestication of the PENCOM law, the state government has contributed over five billion Naira to take care of pensions in the near future.
According to the Governor: “This is the first time in Benue State, the government has made the efforts we have made to clear pensions. As soon as a certain benchmark is reached with the domestication of the Pension Commission law, we will be able to source the funds and clear the pensions arrears.”
He pointed out that all the labour unions in Benue were aware of the income of the state, saying that is why there are no industrial actions as was the case before now.
Governor Ortom challenged anyone who accuses him of misappropriating funds to come out with their facts.
He, however, decried the incessant attacks on residents of the state by marauding herdsmen which he said had impacted negatively on the state’s agricultural fortunes as well as other sectors of the economy.
The Governor reiterated his call for self defence by citizens, condemning lawlessness and impunity of whatever form in the country.
