Benue: Ex-senate president, Ayu, heads transition committee

Former Senate President Dr Iyorchia Ayu was Monday inaugurated along with 45 other members of aTransition Committee to midwife a roadmap for Governor Samuel Ortom’s second term administration.

The current administration at the federal level and in most states of the federation will come to an end on May 29 with the inauguration of the President, new and re-elected governors.

Inaugurating the committee in Makurdi, Governor Ortom said that the committee has four weeks to submit its report.

The governor promised to meticulously implement the recommendations of the committee in guiding the administration’s developmental strides.

He further charged the committee to study the current government structure bearing in mind its inadequacies or otherwise and make recommendations for the way forward.

“Evaluate the number, composition and membership of the statutory commissions in the state, and review the state development plan: Our Collective Vision for a New Benue.

“Suggest alternative ways of funding development projects and payment of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity of public servants in the state and ways of enhancing revenue generation in the state,” Ortom tasked the members.

He further urged the committee to suggest ways of productively engaging the youth and women in the state and ways in which farmers in the state could add value to their farm produce.

Speaking on behalf of the 46 committee members, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, said “nobody was too big to come back and work for Benue State”.

Ayu commended the governor for the opportunity to serve the state and promised to deliver on the set mandate of helping to provide a roadmap for the development of the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Ijohor (SAN), will serve as secretary of the committee, while Prof John Idoko, Mr Felix Atume, Dr Paul Orhii, Peter Chieshe, Prof Iyorwase Hagher, Sir John Ngbede, Dr Cletus Tyokaa, Terna Ayua among others are members. (NAN)