Benue Assembly Grants Ortom's Request For 10B Naira Facility.

Members of the 8th Benue Assembly just voted for a resolution granting Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom's request to borrow Ten Billion Naira to keep the government going.



The resolution follows a request to that effect by the governor to enable him pay salaries and attend to other pressing state matters.

Joseph Ojobo, PDP moved the motion after contributions on the request by members and was seconded by Ianna Jato, PDP.

Jato says his support for the motion is premised on the ground that even the just passed 2015 budget has provision for deficit funding.

He however cautions against "borrowing as was the case with the out gone government," and urged Ortom to devise other means of getting money.

Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange appreciates members for the action.

Speaking with journalists after the session, Bem Mngutyo (APC), Tarka State Constituency said the decision was to enable government move forward.
"Ours is to see how the government can move forward. The state is in a precarious situation where salaries are not paid," says the former Benue State NUJ chair.

He however noted that "even if borrowing is not the best approach, it is pertinent to know that the best thing to do now is to borrow. Perhaps, we can step up ways of IGR because our situation seems to be worst than states that are newly created."