INTRODUCTION
It’s exactly one month since Dr Samuel Ortom
was sworn in as Governor of Benue State and it
all seems like it’s been a year. There’s been so
much activities, intrigues and arguments within
this short period that I can only attempt to put
into perspective in this review.
Dr Samuel Ortom became Governor out of a
keenly contested election which began initially
with 26 candidates, the highest number in the
country. Also the election drew the most
interest from the electorate with a strong
conscientisation and mobilisation on social
media, such as never seen before. The
conversations, arguments, intrigues and
opinions are therefore not surprising, in fact,
the governor must have realised by now that
he will have to stir the affairs of the state
under the radar, under the watchful eyes of the
masses as everyone is ready to follow up their
votes to fruition.
Even though his predecessor, former Governor
Gabriel Suswam ran the government into the
ground, serving him a tasteless salad of an
unprecedented debt profile and unpaid salaries
mixed with strike actions for breakfast, the
people still expect Ortom to perform, afterall
“government is a continuum”, they say.
In a spirited acceptance speech on May 29,
2015, a freshly inaugurated Governor Samuel
Ioraer Ortom said the major policy thrust of his
administration will rests on five major pillars,
namely: Good governance and revenue security;
Agricultural-Driven Industrialization; Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
(STEAM)-Based Education and Health Services;
Investment in critical infrastructure; and
Promoting gender equality and empowering
women, youth, sports, and persons with
disabilities.
These will be the yardstick upon which he’ll be
lifted up in celebration or crucifixion.

APPOINTMENTS
Governor Samuel Ortom was the first to
commit himself to fairness and equity. Quoting
from his inauguration speech, he said, “We will
constitute a participatory government where
citizens will have their say and way. We will
work to allay the fear of marginalisation of the
minority ethnic groups in the state be you
Akweya, Etulo, Nyifon, Ufia, Agatu, Jukun, or
Hausa, you will enjoy the rights and privileges
of the other better known Tiv, Idoma and
Igede.”
Predictably, it was the sharing of appointments
among the better known Tiv, Idoma and Igede
that became the first bone of contention. In the
first series of appointments, the governor
announced Targema Takema as the Secretary
to the State Government (SSG), Iwanta
Adaikwu as Head of Service, Terwase Orbunde
as Chief of Staff and Tahav Agerzua, as Media
Adviser.
Whilst Tiv had the majority and Igede were
contented with getting the Head of service, it
was the first time the Idoma of Benue south
senatorial zone will fail to produce the SSG in
sixteen years and that drew it’s fair share of
criticism but after a few weeks, the Governor
has somewhat vindicated himself and silenced
his critics, albeit temporarily.
Last week, the Governor revealed his list of
thirteen commissioner nominees, four went to
Benue north-east, four to the north-west and
surprisingly, five to the south, thereby
balancing the equation with a promise for more
twist and turns.
The governor has consistently promised to
consider proficiency over prominence in his
political appointments but for some who are
still aggrieved, it’s a waiting game to see how
things unfold.

DECISIONS
No sooner had Governor Ortom settled into
office, than he started the reversal of some of
his predecessors last minute decisions. Even
as Governor-elect, he had warned the then
outgoing Governor, Gabriel Suswam to desist
from such treacherous moves citing the
perilous financial condition of the state, but to
no avail.
First was the cancellation of all last minute
recruitments into the state civil service, and
then a directive to the Tiv Traditional Council to
suspend forthwith, the process of conferring
first class chiefs among which was Suswam’s
elder brother, Dr Terkura Suswam.
Ortom also reinstated Chief Abomtse, a
monarch who was infamously deposed by
Suswam following allegations of gross
misconduct, embezzlement of subordinates
salaries, unauthorised press releases and
complacency during the Fulani crisis.
A committee set up by the governor found the
chief not guilty and recommended
reinstatement to his position as the substantive
Ter Nagi with all benefits.
The Governor went further to approve the
dissolution of the 23 local government
caretaker committees, all boards of parastatals,
non statutory commissions and governing
councils of all tertiary institutions in the state
with immediate effect, but the one that raised
the most dust was the cancellation of the
report of the visitation panel to the Benue
State University.
Ortom argued that an accurate assessment of
work done for five years could not be made in
one week thereby rejecting the report, but that
didn’t go down well with the members of the
panel whose Chairman, Professor Daniel Saror
led the barrage of resignations that followed.

DEBT PROFILE, UNPAID SALARIES AND
STRIKING UNIONS
Governor Ortom received a state grounded on
all fronts. As mentioned earlier, his
predecessor, Gabriel Suswam “emptied” the
treasury and fled to the UK on the day of his
coronation. Suswam claimed he left a debt of
N9.3 billion but another look into the books will
reveal the true depths of the holes Suswam
had created in the state’s pockets.
Governor Ortom, a few weeks into office
revealed a debt burden of N90 billion; N50
billion for ongoing contracts, N18 billion for
certified ones, N12 billion for salary arrears and
about N10 billion for bonds and bank loans.
Saddled with a load of inherited debts, unpaid
salaries and pressure from striking unions,
Governor Ortom has himself, decided to borrow
N10 billion which according to him will offset
workers salaries to a tune of two months in two
instalments on either side of a comprehensive
staff audit. Also will tackle other challenges
such as accreditation of programmes at the
College of Health Sciences of the Benue State
University, BSU, Makurdi and take off of the
State House of Assembly as well as other
pressing government business.
Striking unions which include Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic
Staff Union (NASU) and Association of Resident
Doctors (ARD) all of Benue State University,
however, are insisting on a down payment of at
least three months wages before they return to
work. How the Governor intends to bring these
contrasting ends together is only a matter of
time as he has always been optimistic.
“I’m aware of the backlog of arrears of salaries
and pensions, I’m aware of strikes especially
that of the Benue State University, we shall
consult with them and find a way to resolve the
matter so that they will resume,” He said on his
first day in office.
The Governor has also discussed a bailout from
debt burden, arrears of salaries, allowances and
retirement benefits amongst other issues, with
President Buhari during their trip to South
Africa for the African Union Summit, which
hopefully will help to alleviate some of these
challenges the state is facing.

EARLY STRIDES AND PROMISES
Governor Ortom’s desire is unquestionable, so
much that he embarked on a one week hunt for
investors in far away China, even before his
inauguration.
Within this short period, the state government
has signed memoranda of understanding with
two Chinese firms. Firstly, China Railway Airport
Construction, CRAC, for the provision of critical
infrastructure in several areas including roads,
power generation, and agriculture, and then
another group of companies called CGC
Alliance, for industrial and commercial
revitalization of the state which include coal
power plant, potable water and irrigation,
renovation of agriculture service centers,
construction of Makurdi-Guma road, reticulation
of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala,
airport and industrial park construction, sugar
cane plantation and refineries.
If Governor Ortom’s early sprint is anything to
go by, Benue State have got themselves a
leader in the likeness of Aper Aku – the gold
standard of leadership in Benue State.
Rightly so, the Governor has visited some of
Aper Aku’s abandoned legacies, pledging to
break the jinx of moribund industries in the
state. They include Taraku Mills, Otukpo Burnt
Bricks Company and Igumale Cement Company.
Others he has promised to revive include the
Tomato processing company at Anunne, the
Agricultural Centre, Mbatie in Buruku LGA and
Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev.
Just barely 24 hours after the inauguration, the
deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu visited
the water works in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. He
carried out a thorough inspection and promised
that water will run within two weeks and true to
his words, it did. Such is the partnership upon
us.
Governor Ortom in line with his commitment to
the security of lives and property in the state,
has declared amnesty for possessors of illegal
arms who surrender them willingly and vowed
to put a machinery in place to track and
apprehend those who shun the offer.
This move is laudable as it would purge the
state of thugs armed by nefarious politicians
during the elections.
Another impressive feat was Governor Ortom’s
show of bravery during a commercial
motorcycle “Okada” riders protest which quickly
degenerated into a full fledged riot and was
heading for the worse but for his intervention.
The governor made an unsolicited appearance
on the streets to calm the situation. By so
doing, he underlined the commitment of a
governor who owes his election victory largely
to the thumbs of “ordinary” people.
Apart from the above mentioned, it’s been
pretty much plans and promises, and more
promises! Here are a few:
1. That he will intensify dialogue to resolve the
protracted crisis between Benue farmers and
Fulani herdsmen. This he has already started
by meeting with the leadership of Miyyetti Allah
Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria just last
week.
2. That he will partner with the private sector
to identify and exploit areas in which the state
has comparative and competitive advantage.
3. That he will create a conducive environment
for the sector to tap and invest to boost its
economy when officials of AFRIASIA
TRANSATLANTIC services Nigeria paid him a
courtesy call.
4. That he will organize an investors’ forum in
Makurdi, the state capital when he hosted the
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie.
5. That he will establish an information and
communication technology development agency
when he paid a courtesy call on the Director
General and management staff of the National
Information Technology Development Agency,
NITDA.
6. That he would soon convene a youth summit
to get their inputs into the youth empowerment
program of his administration.
7. That his administration would always pay its
counterpart funding for execution of various
United Nation’s programmes in Benue State.

VERDICT
Phew! It’s still early days and looks promising
however the issues of unpaid salaries and
uncompromising striking unions need careful
handling. The outcome of those will go a long
way in making or marring the credentials of the
new administration to deliver on its promises.

SOURCE : Governor Samuel Ortom’s First Month Scorecard: So Far, So Good | Benue.com.ng - http://benue.com.ng/governor-samuel-ortoms-first-month-scorecard-so-far-so-good/

Give us your source Please.

How has this solved our problem as students suffering from strike action. Please renegotiation with the lecturers to me is the only way to end this humiliating strike.

Tanyogo:
INTRODUCTION
It’s exactly one month since Dr Samuel Ortom
was sworn in as Governor of Benue State and it
all seems like it’s been a year. There’s been so
much activities, intrigues and arguments within
this short period that I can only attempt to put
into perspective in this review.
Dr Samuel Ortom became Governor out of a
keenly contested election which began initially
with 26 candidates, the highest number in the
country. Also the election drew the most
interest from the electorate with a strong
conscientisation and mobilisation on social
media, such as never seen before. The
conversations, arguments, intrigues and
opinions are therefore not surprising, in fact,
the governor must have realised by now that
he will have to stir the affairs of the state
under the radar, under the watchful eyes of the
masses as everyone is ready to follow up their
votes to fruition.
Even though his predecessor, former Governor
Gabriel Suswam ran the government into the
ground, serving him a tasteless salad of an
unprecedented debt profile and unpaid salaries
mixed with strike actions for breakfast, the
people still expect Ortom to perform, afterall
“government is a continuum”, they say.
In a spirited acceptance speech on May 29,
2015, a freshly inaugurated Governor Samuel
Ioraer Ortom said the major policy thrust of his
administration will rests on five major pillars,
namely: Good governance and revenue security;
Agricultural-Driven Industrialization; Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
(STEAM)-Based Education and Health Services;
Investment in critical infrastructure; and
Promoting gender equality and empowering
women, youth, sports, and persons with
disabilities.
These will be the yardstick upon which he’ll be
lifted up in celebration or crucifixion.

APPOINTMENTS
Governor Samuel Ortom was the first to
commit himself to fairness and equity. Quoting
from his inauguration speech, he said, “We will
constitute a participatory government where
citizens will have their say and way. We will
work to allay the fear of marginalisation of the
minority ethnic groups in the state be you
Akweya, Etulo, Nyifon, Ufia, Agatu, Jukun, or
Hausa, you will enjoy the rights and privileges
of the other better known Tiv, Idoma and
Igede.”
Predictably, it was the sharing of appointments
among the better known Tiv, Idoma and Igede
that became the first bone of contention. In the
first series of appointments, the governor
announced Targema Takema as the Secretary
to the State Government (SSG), Iwanta
Adaikwu as Head of Service, Terwase Orbunde
as Chief of Staff and Tahav Agerzua, as Media
Adviser.
Whilst Tiv had the majority and Igede were
contented with getting the Head of service, it
was the first time the Idoma of Benue south
senatorial zone will fail to produce the SSG in
sixteen years and that drew it’s fair share of
criticism but after a few weeks, the Governor
has somewhat vindicated himself and silenced
his critics, albeit temporarily.
Last week, the Governor revealed his list of
thirteen commissioner nominees, four went to
Benue north-east, four to the north-west and
surprisingly, five to the south, thereby
balancing the equation with a promise for more
twist and turns.
The governor has consistently promised to
consider proficiency over prominence in his
political appointments but for some who are
still aggrieved, it’s a waiting game to see how
things unfold.

DECISIONS
No sooner had Governor Ortom settled into
office, than he started the reversal of some of
his predecessors last minute decisions. Even
as Governor-elect, he had warned the then
outgoing Governor, Gabriel Suswam to desist
from such treacherous moves citing the
perilous financial condition of the state, but to
no avail.
First was the cancellation of all last minute
recruitments into the state civil service, and
then a directive to the Tiv Traditional Council to
suspend forthwith, the process of conferring
first class chiefs among which was Suswam’s
elder brother, Dr Terkura Suswam.
Ortom also reinstated Chief Abomtse, a
monarch who was infamously deposed by
Suswam following allegations of gross
misconduct, embezzlement of subordinates
salaries, unauthorised press releases and
complacency during the Fulani crisis.
A committee set up by the governor found the
chief not guilty and recommended
reinstatement to his position as the substantive
Ter Nagi with all benefits.
The Governor went further to approve the
dissolution of the 23 local government
caretaker committees, all boards of parastatals,
non statutory commissions and governing
councils of all tertiary institutions in the state
with immediate effect, but the one that raised
the most dust was the cancellation of the
report of the visitation panel to the Benue
State University.
Ortom argued that an accurate assessment of
work done for five years could not be made in
one week thereby rejecting the report, but that
didn’t go down well with the members of the
panel whose Chairman, Professor Daniel Saror
led the barrage of resignations that followed.

DEBT PROFILE, UNPAID SALARIES AND
STRIKING UNIONS
Governor Ortom received a state grounded on
all fronts. As mentioned earlier, his
predecessor, Gabriel Suswam “emptied” the
treasury and fled to the UK on the day of his
coronation. Suswam claimed he left a debt of
N9.3 billion but another look into the books will
reveal the true depths of the holes Suswam
had created in the state’s pockets.
Governor Ortom, a few weeks into office
revealed a debt burden of N90 billion; N50
billion for ongoing contracts, N18 billion for
certified ones, N12 billion for salary arrears and
about N10 billion for bonds and bank loans.
Saddled with a load of inherited debts, unpaid
salaries and pressure from striking unions,
Governor Ortom has himself, decided to borrow
N10 billion which according to him will offset
workers salaries to a tune of two months in two
instalments on either side of a comprehensive
staff audit. Also will tackle other challenges
such as accreditation of programmes at the
College of Health Sciences of the Benue State
University, BSU, Makurdi and take off of the
State House of Assembly as well as other
pressing government business.
Striking unions which include Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic
Staff Union (NASU) and Association of Resident
Doctors (ARD) all of Benue State University,
however, are insisting on a down payment of at
least three months wages before they return to
work. How the Governor intends to bring these
contrasting ends together is only a matter of
time as he has always been optimistic.
“I’m aware of the backlog of arrears of salaries
and pensions, I’m aware of strikes especially
that of the Benue State University, we shall
consult with them and find a way to resolve the
matter so that they will resume,” He said on his
first day in office.
The Governor has also discussed a bailout from
debt burden, arrears of salaries, allowances and
retirement benefits amongst other issues, with
President Buhari during their trip to South
Africa for the African Union Summit, which
hopefully will help to alleviate some of these
challenges the state is facing.

EARLY STRIDES AND PROMISES
Governor Ortom’s desire is unquestionable, so
much that he embarked on a one week hunt for
investors in far away China, even before his
inauguration.
Within this short period, the state government
has signed memoranda of understanding with
two Chinese firms. Firstly, China Railway Airport
Construction, CRAC, for the provision of critical
infrastructure in several areas including roads,
power generation, and agriculture, and then
another group of companies called CGC
Alliance, for industrial and commercial
revitalization of the state which include coal
power plant, potable water and irrigation,
renovation of agriculture service centers,
construction of Makurdi-Guma road, reticulation
of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala,
airport and industrial park construction, sugar
cane plantation and refineries.
If Governor Ortom’s early sprint is anything to
go by, Benue State have got themselves a
leader in the likeness of Aper Aku – the gold
standard of leadership in Benue State.
Rightly so, the Governor has visited some of
Aper Aku’s abandoned legacies, pledging to
break the jinx of moribund industries in the
state. They include Taraku Mills, Otukpo Burnt
Bricks Company and Igumale Cement Company.
Others he has promised to revive include the
Tomato processing company at Anunne, the
Agricultural Centre, Mbatie in Buruku LGA and
Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev.
Just barely 24 hours after the inauguration, the
deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu visited
the water works in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. He
carried out a thorough inspection and promised
that water will run within two weeks and true to
his words, it did. Such is the partnership upon
us.
Governor Ortom in line with his commitment to
the security of lives and property in the state,
has declared amnesty for possessors of illegal
arms who surrender them willingly and vowed
to put a machinery in place to track and
apprehend those who shun the offer.
This move is laudable as it would purge the
state of thugs armed by nefarious politicians
during the elections.
Another impressive feat was Governor Ortom’s
show of bravery during a commercial
motorcycle “Okada” riders protest which quickly
degenerated into a full fledged riot and was
heading for the worse but for his intervention.
The governor made an unsolicited appearance
on the streets to calm the situation. By so
doing, he underlined the commitment of a
governor who owes his election victory largely
to the thumbs of “ordinary” people.
Apart from the above mentioned, it’s been
pretty much plans and promises, and more
promises! Here are a few:
1. That he will intensify dialogue to resolve the
protracted crisis between Benue farmers and
Fulani herdsmen. This he has already started
by meeting with the leadership of Miyyetti Allah
Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria just last
week.
2. That he will partner with the private sector
to identify and exploit areas in which the state
has comparative and competitive advantage.
3. That he will create a conducive environment
for the sector to tap and invest to boost its
economy when officials of AFRIASIA
TRANSATLANTIC services Nigeria paid him a
courtesy call.
4. That he will organize an investors’ forum in
Makurdi, the state capital when he hosted the
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie.
5. That he will establish an information and
communication technology development agency
when he paid a courtesy call on the Director
General and management staff of the National
Information Technology Development Agency,
NITDA.
6. That he would soon convene a youth summit
to get their inputs into the youth empowerment
program of his administration.
7. That his administration would always pay its
counterpart funding for execution of various
United Nation’s programmes in Benue State.

VERDICT
Phew! It’s still early days and looks promising
however the issues of unpaid salaries and
uncompromising striking unions need careful
handling. The outcome of those will go a long
way in making or marring the credentials of the
new administration to deliver on its promises.

SOURCE : Governor Samuel Ortom’s First Month Scorecard: So Far, So Good | Benue.com.ng - http://benue.com.ng/governor-samuel-ortoms-first-month-scorecard-so-far-so-good/