By Kula Tersoo
Makurdi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has directed the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to pay the October and November 2011 salary arrears of local government staff that were not paid at that time.
He gave the directive during the on-going town hall meetings after hearing series of complaints from individuals and union leaders concerning salaries and particularly, bailout funds that were released to the state over eight months ago.
Ortom said even though the arrears were not captured in the initial bailout loan that was obtained it could be paid from the savings of N1.4 billion made from the prudent management of the N15.5 billion facility for local government salary arrears.
This was in direct contrast to a recent declaration by the Special Adviser to the Governor for Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Titus Zam, that other outstanding bills in other years too were included in the bailout request.
The Governor, however, said he gave the directive because at the end of June, 2016, all matters concerning the local government bailout would be concluded, pointing out that since the money was for payment of salary arrears those affected in 2011 should be paid.
The Governor was visibly irked during the town hall meeting at Adikpo when members of staff of the Local Government challenged him, adding that they were not happy with him for not clearing their remaining two months bailout outstanding but going to press through his Adviser on LGCA to claim he had completed payment of bailout months.
But Ortom while giving the order noted that 27 states in the country had difficulties in paying salaries, saying efforts were being made to raise internally generated revenue to tackle the challenge while further efforts to verify the staff on the payroll were on-going.
He said that his administration has embarked on cost saving measures by reducing the size of government machinery, travels and trimming of his allowances and those of his deputy.
The meetings have already been held with stakeholders in Katsina-Ala, Ukum, Logo, Buruku, Tarka, Gboko, Ushongo, Kwande, Vandeikya and Konshisha.
