Benue Governor Elect, Ortom Reads Riot Act To Gov. Suswam Over Impunity, Highhandedness.
The Benue State Governor-elect Samuel Ortom, has read riot acts to the Governor Gabriel Suswan over his plans to raise some chiefs in the state to first class status and enlist some persons into the state civil service.
At a press conference yesterday in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, Addressing a press in Makurdi, the Governor elect said that there are plans by Suswan’s Government to place a huge financial burden on the incoming administration through ‘‘massive appointments, recruitments and back door promotions in all government agencies in the state’’.
Ortom at the Press conference said; “We have called this press conference to alert Nigerians generally and the people of the state in particular to the hurried attempts by the outgoing governor to commit the incoming administration in several ways without the courtesy of consultation. This is happening when workers and pensioners are owed salaries and pensions in arrears of about six months and the debt profile of the state is unknown.”
The Governor who spoke through his deputy, Engr. Benson Abonu, the governor-elect alleged ongoing massive recruitment in government ministries, parastatals and agencies alongside promotions, adding that while some of the recruitments are fresh, others are being backdated or documented as replacement.
According to him he said that The incoming administration said they are aware that Suswam had ‘‘rushed’’ a law creating 10 first class chiefs in the state and has even prompted the Tiv traditional council to begin the appointment of six of them with the view of presenting the beneficiaries with the staff of office before May 29.
He as well asked Suswan to suspend action on the issues raised and all other matters; “We warn that these recruitments however documented in addition to the promotions are in bad faith and cannot stand. Beneficiaries must be aware and civil servants being used to perpetrate illegality must be ready to face dire consequences,” he added.
Ortom said that mutual agreement entered with Suswam to ensure a smooth transition is being flouted, wondering why a government that could not pay civil servants salaries would want to conduct local government elections which would cost over N2 billion.
