Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Following public outcry against the setting up of committee to oversee the disbursement of the last tranche of Paris Club refund to the state, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has suspended the committee to pave way for speedy payment of the funds to workers and retirees.
The governor also directed the state Ministry of Finance to immediately commence payment of salary arrears, pensions and gratuity from the Paris Club refund which the state recently received from the Federal Government.
Governor Ortom disclosed this, on Monday, at the burial of Sabastine Dewua at Tse-Awuna, Mbachohon, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
He explained that though the constitution of the Paris Club disbursement committee was done in good fate, he had decided to suspend the committee as a result of the public outcry it generated.
Governor Ortom also noted that as part of the transparency policy of his administration, he immediately made public the receipt of the N14.9 billion Paris Club refund even when other states were yet to disclose theirs.
While positing that he had remained firm against the invasion of the state as a result of the support he has enjoyed from Benue people, the Governor urged his supporters to be peaceful in their conduct while canvassing support for his reelection.
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He stressed that power belongs to God and the Creator gives it to whomever He wills.
The a governor described the late Dewua as a truthful and God fearing person who lived and died in Christ and prayed God to grant him eternal rest.
In a funeral mass, Parish Priest in charge of St. Theresa’s Catholic Parish Naka, Reverend Fr. Titus Igyese, urged the living to respect life more than death, stressing that one who lives a Godly life fears no death.
Immediate younger brother of the deceased, Brigadier General Charles Dewua, on behalf of the family, expressed appreciation to Governor Ortom, the Church and everyone who stood by the family during the sickness, death and burial of their father.