Gov Ortom Approves N400m Payment To Pensioners

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has approved the release of N400 million for the payment of pension and gratuity to local government and state pensioners every month.

According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media, Godwin Akor, he said N200 million would be paid to pensioners at each level.

Ortom stated that the state government decided to use part of the budget support fund from the Federal Government for the purpose. He also explained that Benue’s budget support fund would be N1.3 billion and N1.1 billion for three and nine months respectively.

“The Federal Government decided to approve the option of budget support fund because conditions for obtaining loans from the Paris Club and IMF were too stringent for the country and at the last national economic council meeting, it was agreed that Nigeria should diversify its economy through agriculture.

“It has become obvious that oil can no longer sustain Nigeria because of low prices in the international market and activities of Niger Delta Avengers and maintained that while some states are owing workers seven months salary, Benue is owing local government and state workers salaries for five and four months respectively,” it stated.

The statement also said the number of commissioners have been reduced from 17 to 13 while the number of special assistants and other aides have been reduced from 500 to 135.

It noted that the reduced wage bills will be contributed to the development of the university and the upgrading of the university’s teaching hospital to a Federal University Teaching Hospital.