Ortom confirms receipt of N14.9bn Paris Club Refund

BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom has confirmed the receipt of N14.9 billion final tranche of the Paris Club refunds from federal government.

The governor said that 80 percent of the sum would be used to pay workers salaries, pension allowances and gratuities.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase stated this in a statement.

According to the statement, ‘Governor Ortom says 80% of the funds will be used for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

The statement hinted that the governor had set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu to work out modalities for immediate disbursement of the funds.

ALSO READ: Sacked government officials in Benue run away with vehicles

Akase further said that on the committee are the Head of Service, Finance Commissioner, Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adviser on Labour Matters, Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Benue State chapters.

The Chief Press Secretary said that the decision of governor Ortom to involve key stakeholders in disbursement of the Paris Club refund was in line with his policy of transparency and accountability.

He recalled that the Governor similarly made public the receipt and disbursement of the N12.7 billion first tranche and N6.4 billion second tranche of the Paris Club refunds respectively.