Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Confirms Reciept Of N12.7 Billion From FG As Paris And London Clubs' Refund.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has confirmed that the state has received N12.7 billion from the Federal Government as part of its share of the Paris and London Clubs’ refund and not N90 billion as being speculated.He disclosed this to journalists on Monday at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, the state capital.

The governor said that the amount was 25% of $181 mil­lion which is the to­tal amount owed the state from the creditors clubs’ refund. He explained that local governments in the state would take 45% of the money while the state would utilise the remaining 50%.

Ortom said that he would meet with the relevant labour leaders in the state to work out an acceptable disbursement formula this week.He noted that his administration would comply with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to use half of the amount to offset salary areas of civil servants at the state and local government lev­els.He said that the President had approved that 50% of the total amount be paid but that the Federal Minis­try of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) were able to pay only the 25% at the official exchange rate three days ago.

The governor described the informa­tion that the state had received over N90 billion as false, declaring that the information emanated from the op­position political party.

On the appointment of the next paramount ruler of the Tiv, the governor reiterated his pledge that there would be no interference with the selection process and that a date for the exercise would be fixed this week