Salary arrears: Ortom asks Benue gov to disclose state wage bill

The immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has challenged his successor, Governor Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to disclose the wage bill of the state.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Makurdi on Tuesday, the former governor also asked Governor Alia to publish the allocations received since his assumption of office.

Ortom’s call followed Alia’s disclosure that he inherited N359 billion in salary arrears from his predecessor.

Alia disclosed during his thank-you tour of the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency that he inherited over N359 billion in salary arrears.

Ortom, who described the claim as nothing but a tissue of lies, said that Governor Alia, by his claim, had created the impression that he did not pay his salary for five years.

Ortom said that his successor has been bandying his administration, which shows that the governor is obsessed with his name.

The former governor recalled that the Alia administration had admitted that he (Ortom) left N187.56 billion in debt when he assumed office in 2023 and expressed worries about the new figure the governor dropped during his thank-you tour.

“We challenge the State Government under Governor Alia to publish the allocations they have received since May 2023 and how the funds are being expended.

“We equally challenge the Alia government to tell the people what the state’s wage bill is, after the Governor claimed that they removed thousands of “ghost workers” from the government’s payroll.

“The Alia administration should also publish what the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state has been since May 2023 to date.

“Going by Governor Alia’s claim that he inherited N359 billion in salary arrears, the unfounded impression created is that the past administration of Governor Ortom did not pay salaries for five years (60 months).

“How possible is this? The narrative is not only ridiculously fictitious but is also a deliberate flimflam to mislead the people.

“The Alia administration appears to be obsessed with the name Samuel Ortom, as they miss no opportunity to throw darts at the immediate past Governor, branding him with all manner of negative hues.

” It is puzzling that Chief Ortom left office more than a year ago, but his successor and his team can’t get off his back. This is despite the reluctance of the former Governor to engage in a media war with his successor.”

Ortom who said that he too inherited debts in 2015 explained that his administration worked tirelessly to clear arrears of salary and the same time  implemented a 27% increase in teachers’ salaries , the N18,000 minimum wage for teachers as well the N30,000 minimum wage for workers.

The former governor said that before he left office in 2023, his administration took proactive steps to negotiate and ensure significant debt reduction and relief for the state.

Ortom urged his successor to stop chasing shadows, concentrate on governance, and fulfill his campaign promises to the people.