Over bloated wage bill: Ortom threatens to punish fraudulent civil servants

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has threatened to punish anyone involved in fraudulent activities which led to an over bloated wage bill, even as he commended civil servants for their show of understanding over the challenges in the payment of salaries.

The governor, who handed down the threat on a Radio Benue Interactive Programme, “Issues of the Moment”,
appealed to workers not to be weighed down by the situation, but sustain their cooperation with the administration as it is working hard to provide enduring solutions. He blamed the present economic situation on the rot that his administration inherited from the immediate past government, saying he inherited N69 billion salary arrears, over N60 billion contract obligations and a wage bill of N8.2 billion. Ortom said through concerted efforts, the administration has
reduced the arrears and the wage bill and promised that it would not renege on the state of emergency it declared on the payment of salaries until the situation is permanently addressed.

The governor, who drew attention to the transparent manner in which the administration was being run, assured the people that his government would not divert public funds, as the records of all government receipts and expenditure are available for public scrutiny. He advised the people to be wary of those who peddle hate speeches against him on social media, stating that his administration has refused to join issues with detractors because of the social contact he has with Benue people. Reacting to the allegation of payroll padding levelled against some government functionaries and commercial banks by the chairman of the emergency committee on salary issues, Ortom said government would take appropriate actions when the committee submits its report

Source Nigerian Pilot