Gov Alia sets up committees to recover assets from Ortom administration
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has embarked on a mission of recovering assets at the State and Local Government levels run by the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom.
Neptune Prime reports that in a statement issued on Sunday by Mr. Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the committees set up by the governor have been mandated to investigate government’s assets including lands.
“The committees are, among other things, mandated to ascertain all assets of the government including lands, vehicles, houses, furniture and other machinery,” the statement reads in part.
This come following allegation by the government that the immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) carted away official vehicles from Government House, leaving the new Governor without vehicles to work with.
It would be recalled that the Ortom administration had condemned recent sacking of civil servants employed with just one year to the end of his tenure and the reversal of promotions to the rank of Permanent Secretary approved by that administration from January 2023.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, in that response claimed among others that “PDP looted Government House to a point that the new government under Governor Hyacinth Alia, met no single car or truck in government house.”
But in a counter response by Mr. Terver Akase, the media aide to former Governor Ortom debunked the allegation, explaining that the decision to allow the exiting Governor and government officials go with their official vehicles was reached at the (then) State Executive Council meeting.
“The present administration may wish to be informed that it was the decision of the (then) Benue State Executive Council that government officials including the (then) Governor and his Deputy be given waivers to enable them go with the official vehicles allocated to them.
“Former Governor Ortom therefore did nothing unlawful by leaving office with the official vehicles allocated to him. It is a tradition that an outgoing Governor leaves with vehicles given to him. Perhaps we should add that the Ortom administration offered to buy vehicles for the incoming government but the present Governor declined, saying that he would prefer to buy vehicles for his administration after the inauguration,” he said.
The statement disclosed that Mr. Hingah Biem will Chair the 11-man committe at the State level while Mr. Tormbuwua Terlumun will serve as Secretary.
The eight-member Local Government Assets Recovery Committee is headed by Dr. Jude Tyo while a former lawmaker, Mr. Nick Eworo will serve as Secretary.
The statement noted that “both committees will have able representatives from the Department of State Services, DSS, the Police, the Military and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).”
Similarly, the Facts Finding Committee to the Benue State University Makurdi is headed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Paul Biam while Mr. Agbo Ochekpe would serve as Secretary.
According to the Chief Press Secretary, “the committee has been given its terms of reference and lifespan.”