Ortom directs immediate release of N50 million for students bursary allowances

By: Jimin Geoffrey…

Governor Samuel Ortom has directed the immediate release of N50 million naira for payment of bursary allowances to students of Benue State origin.

Governor Ortom who gave the directive today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a courtesy call on him by the new executives of the National Union of Benue State Students, NUBESS, said the remaining amount of about N130 million would be released in batches as resources permit.

While congratulating the new NUBESS officials on their peaceful election, the Governor frowned at the high level of students involvement in cult related killings, saying government would not condone such barbaric behaviour.

He stated that a crack team comprising security agents would be deployed to monitor and deal with issues of cultism in schools, pointing out that such activities also lead to kidnapping and other related crimes.

National President of NUBESS, Comrade Joshua Tiv Lubem said from January to date, about 16 students lost their lives in cult related clashes, stressing that the development had negatively affected educational activities.

While calling for the formation of a special anti-cultism squad to check the menace in the state, Comrade Lubem also appealed for payment of bursary allowances to students as well as provision of an official vehicle among other supports to enable them function effectively.