Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has assured workers of the state that there will not be retrenchment in the civil service despite the dwindling economy. He gave the workers the assurance Wednesday during the burial of Mama Martina Nongu Yina, which took place at Tse-Shenge, Mbayion, Gboko LGA of the state.
This is as he and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura Wednesday canvassed closer ties between the two states.
They made the disclosure when Governor Ortom visited his colleague at the Government House in Lafia.
Governor Ortom said beside common boundaries the two states shared other similarities including ethnic composition, a common history as well as cultural and political affiliation hence the need for them to partner to tackle common challenges.
According to the Benue state first citizen, he was in Lafia to arrange a meeting of major stakeholders from the two states to deliberate on boundary issues and peaceful coexistence as a proactive measure to forestall any breakdown of law and order and also sustain the existing peace.
Governor Al-Makura described his Benue State counterpart as a dear friend and brother who was passionate about good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence.
He expressed hope that their close personal relationship could facilitate the deepening of affinities between the government and people of the two states.
The Nasarawa state Governor described the Ortom administration’s amnesty programme as an innovative problem solving strategy and hoped to replicate same in Nasarawa State.
The two leaders agreed to hold regular meetings and consultations on common challenges such as security and together search for solutions.
At the Gboko event, Gov. Ortom said the Benue State Government will apart from not retrenching workers, also not cut salaries, stressing that instead, efforts would be intensified to raise the internally generated revenue of the state from N250 million to over N1 billion which is the monthly target of the state.
He said the 2016 Benue State budget has a provision for mini dams across the state to facilitate irrigation and boost dry season farming.
He described agriculture as the surest way out of the current economic challenges, saying that food processing will be given priority, as a number of investors have indicated interest to come to Benue State.
Governor Ortom also disclosed that the government would give grants to religious organisations to support their health and educational institutions as government alone can no longer handle such social services.
He described the late Mama Martina Nongu Yina as a virtuous woman who stood for the truth and showed love and care to all who came in contact with her irrespective of religion and place of origin.
Earlier, the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese, Most Revd. Peter Adoboh also commended the late Mama Yina for building bridges of peace and having a positive impact on the society. The Bishop urged the people to imbibe the values of truth and love for one another as exemplified by the late Mama Yina even at the old age of 95.
Also speaking, daughter of the late Mama Yina, and former commissioner in the state, Hon. Mrs. Rebecca Apedzan, said the entire family would miss their mother, and prayed for repose of the soul of the deceased.
