Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has directed the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to suspend the electronic system of payment and ensure that workers yet to receive salary arrears from the bailout funds are paid without further delay.
Governor Ortom gave the directive during a joint account meeting for the month of October held at the old banquet hall of the Benue People’s House, Makurdi.
He said the directive became necessary in view of the challenge that had accompanied the e-payment of salaries and the need for government to clear all arrears from the bailout funds and address all the challenges that have arisen from the electronic payment within a record time.
Governor Ortom noted that with the development, Chairmen of Local Government Caretaker Committees were to be given the remaining part of the bail out funds to use the manual process to pay their verified staff including teachers who are yet to receive their arrears.
Governor Ortom announced the decision of government to collapse into one body, the two commissions set up to verify and address all complaints arising from payment of bailout funds to fast track and ensure unity of direction in the process.
The Governor debunked claims on the social media that he had given time limit within which matters relating to bailout funds should be addressed, stating that government was determined to ensure that all issues in the process were given due consideration.
He lamented increasing cases of truancy at the third tier of government which he said was hampering effective service delivery in the local government system.
