Gov. Ortom Blames FG for Non Payment Of State Salaries And Pension
By Prosper Okoye –
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has accused the Federal Government of being the cause for the non-payment of salaries and pension in Benue state.
He however assured Civil Servants and Pensioners in the State of clearing all payments owed by the government in earnest.
Governor Ortom revealed this while addressing the congregation in today’s Sunday church service, held at Full Gospel Revival Crusade auditorium, along Gboko road Makurdi.
Ortom assured that His administration is making conscious efforts to make sure that the pensions and arrears that were inherited from the past administration are paid, amidst the setbacks brought on the administration by the federal government.
“The Federal Government has denied the state the opportunities of what other states are getting due to the path of truth that we have taken. We can not be intimidated into surrendering our lands,”he noted.
He recounted that the government has been able to pay part of the “Seventy Billion Naira” of arears inherited from the past administration.
“We were owing the state workers seven (7) months arears. We have reduced it by two (2) months.
“We have domesticated the Pencom law in the state, in order to address the challenges of pension payment.
” So far we have contributed over 4 billion naira, and as soon as it gets to certain threshold, we will be able to access fund and solve the pension issue.” He assured.
Eulogizing the General Superintendent of Full Gospel Revival Crusade, Reverend Thomas Ingya, the Governor said the clergy has been a great source of inspiration to him, and christians in the state. As he had continually preached God’s word, without fear or favour.
“Continue to preach what God has given you to preach. The challenges we have in the country today is that, most people abandon their tasks and go about doing things that does not glorify God,” Ortom charged.
The Governor further urged Christians to make the scripture their guide. “You have to hear and obey God. When you serve him faithfully, he will reach out to you.”
While delivering a sermon on the topic: “mind your position, Reverend Ingya pointed out that God created Man for his praise; and has placed men in different positions on earth for his glory.
He adviced that men should continually praise God in every position they found themselves.
Reverend Ingya read from the book John chapter 1 verse 10-11 and Revelation chapter 3, therein he admonished people not derail from God when they are elevated in life.
Adding that, a lot of people have become useless to the country and to God as a result of prosperity.
He likened the behavior of so many people to that of a raven that was sent by Noah and did not return back to the ark, because it found food and forgot the assignment.
The General Superintendent described Governor Ortom as a true servant of God, and acknowledged his kind benevolence to the gospel mission.
