As Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom begins his second year in office, here are five issues that will lead to the success or failure of his administration.


1. Workers Salaries

Governor Samuel Ortom inherited a backlog of unpaid salaries from Ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam. Since then, the state government has struggled to update the salaries of workers which has been due to the dwindling federal revenue allocation to the state. Consequently, workers in the state are been owed 4-5 months salaries. The handling of this delicate facet of governance will go a long way to determine the success or failure of the government most especially because that Benue is considered to be a “civil servant” state.


2. Overbearing taxes

Heavy taxation of the public has been the cause grumbles in the state for the past year of the Ortom administration. The Governor has insisted that taxes should have a human face and said the state assembly is poised to review some of the taxes that are of concern to the people. This if done will go a long way to reestablish the goodwill once enjoyed by the Governor.


3. Projects

Though there have been no finished projects to commission after the first year, Governor Ortom has initiated a number of infrastructural projects especially rural roads. It is expected that the completion of these projects and more that will be initiated, will help to restore the confidence of the people in the government.


4. Media

It’s no news that Governor Ortom has been hemorrhaging in the media. Media assignments have been outsourced to social media personalities whose commentary and strategy has left much to be desired and have rather gathered enemies for the governor and government. This aspect is going to be key in the next one year and beyond for the Governor.


5. Agriculture

The people of the state would love to see the agricultural potential of the state fully explored. This will lead to generation of employment for youths, development and most importantly revenue generation that will ensure self-reliance and self-sustainability of the state. Action or inaction in this direction will determine the people’s perception about the government in the next year.



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