Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday, in Makurdi, explained that the resumption of payment of full salaries and overheads in the state are responsible for the increase.
In a press release signed by his Special Adviser Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, the Governor stated that the payment of full salaries to the State civil servants and overheads are responsible for the increase in Benue wage bill.
The statement reads: “A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), in Benue State, Mr. Godwin Ayihe, requested through newsmen, to know why the state wage bill has risen above N2.7 billion which he claimed the last administration used to pay. The answer is that there has been resumption of payment of full salaries and overheads in the state.
“Hitherto, the past administration had effected deductions from salaries of civil servants for several months. Overheads were also not paid to ministries, departments and agencies for months. Governor Samuel Ortom commenced the payment of full payment of salaries and overheads in May. With these development it became impossible for the figure to remain at N2.7 billion.
“Yet it will be recalled that the Governor had expressed discomfort with the current wage bill and directed a staff audit which is currently going on. We wish to assure the people of the state that their finances were in safe hands and would be deployed to judicious use” Mr. Agerzua stated.
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