100 days of Ortom’s statecraft

By: Abrahams Kwaghngu

Governor Samuel Ortom’s assumption of office on May 29, 2019 for a second term re-enforced his focus in taking steps to leave Benue State better than he met it. 100 days is too short a timeframe to evaluate a Public Servant’s performance, it nevertheless provides an objective medium through which an administration’s policy direction can be evaluated. Timely appointment or re-appointment of public office holders that will help drive government’s policies and programmes is an important component of governance. Governance is a collective venture driven by various political heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. The timely appointment of public office holders is key in making an administration to hit the ground running. The Governor wasted no time in commencing his official functions by re-appointing and swearing in the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Anthony Ijohor, SAN and Hon. Terwase Orbunde as Chief of Staff immediately after he was sworn in. This signifies that he has no room for delays in doing the needful.

The Governor embarked on drastic re-organization of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs by injecting fresh personal into key managerial positions with a charge on them to be creative in formulating new ideas and approach to their functions. This has become necessary as some departments and agencies have not lived up to expectations. On the spot assessments of several government facilities among them the State Secretariat was undertaken to ascertain the state of facilities in such establishments and to identify ways of streamlining and upgrading facilities to in order to enhance their operations to make them more responsive to the needs of the public. At the Benue Sanitation Agency, BENSESA, the operational vans have been refurbished and primed for optimum evacuation of refuse from the metropolis to designated dumpsites on the outskirts of Makurdi.

In the area of social services, the Ortom administration carried out massive renovation and reconstruction works at the Mama Abayol orphanage in Makurdi. At the Industrial layout, the Fire Service Station has been equipped, renovated and overhauled while the Police Station also within the Timber Shed Market along Naka Road has been reconstructed and refurbished to enable it provide security effectively. In the Urban Renewal initiative of Government in Gboko Local Government, major streets such as J. S. Tarka Way, Gondo Aluor Way, Ahmadu Bello Way and Capt. Downes Roads amongst others have been reconstructed and paved to ameliorate the pains of the people. This alone has boosted the economic activities as movement of people and ease of transporting produce has now improved. In Katsina-Ala, many of the streets have been tarred and others undergone drastic repairs. Other road interventions include the 36.73 KM Wannune Ikpa -Igbo road which is ready for commissioning. Oshigbudu-Obagaji Road in Agatu Local Government have also been completed awaiting commissioning. In Otukpo, several township roads are wearing new looks of re-construction and massive repairs of others with asphalt finishing. The benefits of these newly constructed and tarred roads are enormous considering their strategic locations which would invariably improve security, agricultural activities and transportation of produce to the markets. Within Makurdi metropolis many Township roads including the Mobile Barracks-Adeke-Welfare Quarters-Yaikyor – Apir Roads have all received intervention from the administration with the renewed commitment of the Ortom administration to bring development to every section of Benue.
In the education sector, just within 100 days, the Ortom administration has revamped, refurbished and equipped some schools among them Government Girls Model Secondary School and Special School for Exceptional Children, both in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area. The quality of facilities is among the best some of which include motorized boreholes, new classrooms blocks, perimeter fencing, instructional materials amongst others. Still on the education sector, the administration is currently working out modalities to address infrastructural deficits in all the 64-government owned secondary schools which, according to the Governor most have not been renovated for 34 years. The State Government has also accessed additional funds from UBEC to be channeled through SUBEB for further intervention in Basic Education.

The human element is very important in any developmental drive. With this in mind, training and continuous retraining of teachers and other public sector personnel are periodically done as they are critical to delivering quality services. Aokpe in Okpokwu also felt the Governor’s 100 days journey in office. To mark the 2018 December Pilgrimage, 3 classrooms blocks have been completed at St. Patrick’s Primary School while the Governor also offered financial assistance to the Aokpe Pilgrimage Centre to upgrade its facilities and directed the immediate sinking of two boreholes at the centre.

Determined to build on the peace and security initiatives of his administration, Governor Ortom took some drastic actions by directing the immediate suspension and removal from office of some traditional rulers in the Sankera axis for their actions and inactions regarding security situations in their respective domains. This has become imperative to send a clear warning that no one found wanting would be spared in the ongoing efforts to rid the State of all forms of criminality and acts capable of undermining the prevailing peace.

The Governor also within 100 days of the current administration, was in Maryland to attend the annual convention of the influential socio-cultural organization of the Mutual Union of Tiv in America INC, MUTA and the Idoma Association Convention in New York, United States of America. The Governor and the First Lady, Dr.(Mrs) Eunice Ortom accompanied by the 3 Distinguished Senators of Zone A,B and C, Gabriel Suswam, Orker Jev and Abba Moro along with some members of the National and State Assemblies. His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh, Prof. James Ayatse, Tor Tiv V was also in attendance to lend his fatherly support to the MUTA Convention. Governor Ortom based on his ‘Benue First’ mantra suggested to the two Benue organizations to explore ways of harmonizing their various socio-cultural organisations into a united Benue Forum to discuss and advance the Benue Agenda. That is after the two associations must have finish deliberations on their respective organisations. This he observed has become necessary giving the influential roles the two socio-cultural associations are playing to advance the interests of their respective ethnic group even as he appreciated them for being good ambassadors of Benue while contributing to the development of the State through granting of scholarships and other assistance to their compatriots back home.

Determined to put an end to the perennial challenge of prompt payment of pension and gratuities to retirees of the State, the National Pension Commission Act, PENCOM was adopted at the State level. The Benue State PENCOM Law came into existence to help domesticate the National Pension Contributory Scheme Act 2004. This would permanently reform the pension system in the State and ensure prompt payment and gratuities to retirees from the civil service. Those still serving would be encouraged to put in their best with the assurance that the PENCOM Law would take care of their post service expectations.

In the financial services sector, the administration’s collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria with a view to facilitate financial inclusion for the people of the State is a welcome development especially as it relates to the development of SMEs. The appointment of a State Focal Person who also doubles as Director-General, Budget and Planning by the Governor to liaise with the CBN to fast-track access to the Apex Bank’s interventions for the benefit of the people of the State represents is another right step. The Governor’s directive to the Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC to establish micro-finance banks in some Local Governments that have no financial institution is a means of promoting small businesses, commerce and job creation.

With the successful attainment of the symbolic 100 days in this office, from the practical steps taken so far, the second term is bound to be more vibrant, purposeful and creative in tackling the challenges facing the state while maintaining the same accountable, transparent and judicious application of public resources it demonstrated in the first term. With the remaining 3 years and several months left, the Governor Ortom administration is set to ensure that every part of Benue felt the impact of governance. This is wishing the Governor and his team God’s grace to enable them shoulder the burden of public office.