By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has denied accessing Central Bank of Nigeria’s N41Billion loan facility contrary to the allegation that the state government had borrowed the funds.
The Governor who made the denial while briefing Journalists in Makurdi stated that government is stepping up efforts towards accessing the aforementioned loan facility.
Governor Ortom who spoke through the Commissioner of Finance, Mr David Olofu noted that government is not resting on its oars to fulfill the required documentation for the loan which includes the Exco’s approval for revaluation of the loan, Federal Government’s debts sustainability analysis on the state among others.
He assured that the funds would soon be accessed, pointing out that the loan is part of the over N69 billion requested for in 2015. He added that the present amount is the outstanding of which N28 billion had already been disbursed.
The Governor explained that the loan when accessed would clear the backlog of salary arrears, allowances including that of pensioners from 2015, assuring further that all the salary arrears and allowances would be cleared before the exit of the present administration.
