Chief Samuel Ortom Reject Moves By Gov Suswam To Recruit Workers & Appoint First Class Chiefs In Benue State.

Benue State Governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom has rejected moves by the incumbent Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam to recruit civil servants and  impose 10 first class chiefs on pats of the state before the May 29 handing over date.

Ortom made this clear while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on monday,he was represented by the Deputy Governor-elect, Chief Benson Abounu, Ortom lamented that the move was a hurried attempt by the outgoing governor to commit the incoming government in several ways without the courtesy of consultation.Find below the details of the press conference after click.



PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHIEF DR. SAMUEL ORTOM, GOVERNOR ELECT, BENUE STATE, ON THE ATTEMPTS BY THE OUT-GOING GOVERNMENT OF DR. GABRIEL SUSWAM TO IMPOSE FIRST CLASS CHIEFS ON PARTS OF THE STATE BEFORE THE MAY 29TH 2015 HANDOVER DATE, HELD ON THE 28TH APRIL 2015.



The NUJ Chairman, Benue state chapter,

Gentlemen and women of the press,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen



1. All of you are aware of the fact that we were voted on 11th April, 2015 to take over the affairs of the state from the incumbent governor on 29th May, 2015.

2. The out-going governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam and our closest rival Rt. Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor have since conceded defeat and congratulated us. In line with good practice, we have since met with the incumbent governor to explore modalities for a smooth transition. We for example, agreed that the outgoing Governor would stay action on the conduct of Local Government elections, put aside the idea of further recruitment into the public service and discontinue the process of appointing more traditional rulers because of the huge financial implications. The out-going Governor also pledged not to embark on any actions that would disrupt a smooth transition.

3. While expecting that the day to day running of the government should continue uninterrupted, global democratic best practices require that major decisions, especially those with financial implications for the incoming government, must be taken in consultations with us. We have called this press conference to alert Nigerians generally and the people of the state in particular about the hurried attempts by the out-going 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.

4. We have information that there is ongoing massive recruitment in government ministries, parastatals and agencies. Indiscriminate promotions are also going on. While some of the recruitment is fresh others are being backdated or documented as replacements. We want to warn that these recruitment 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 this illegality must be ready to face dire consequences.

5. We are also aware that the out-going governor has rushed a law creating 10 First Class Chiefs in the state. He has also prompted the Tiv Traditional Council to begin the appointment of 6 of these First Class Chiefs with the view of presenting them with the staff of the office before 29th May, 2015. Considering the importance of the traditional institution in our state, it is unacceptable to rush this law. Our state has been literally grounded and the most important objective at the moment should be how to offset salaries and allowances owed to workers and stabilize for a smooth take off.


6. We are therefore appealing to the Tor Tiv and the Tiv Traditional Council to emulate their Idoma counterpart with a view to rethinking their involvement in this matter. The incoming government holds the traditional institution in the highest esteem and would want to partner with it for the development of the state. Our intention is to stabilize the state and consult more widely before expanding the space for the appointment of more traditional rulers. The out-going governor is also requested to stay action on this matter and all matters that can possibly implicate the incoming government in financial terms. Finally, we wish to warn that any appointment of 1st Class Chiefs in the state and fresh recruitment into the state public service by the out-going administration will not be accepted to the incoming administration. Beneficiaries are also advised and warned.



Thank you all.

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