Ortom promises to improve IGR to settle state’s financial obligations

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has promised to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State to enable it to settle some of its financial obligations.

Ortom made the promise on Wednesday in Makurdi while interacting with journalists.

He said what came to the state from the Federal Allocation was hardly enough to adequately take care of its financial challenges.

“It is on this note that we need to improve the IGR to complement what comes from the federal allocation.

“The processes of even borrowing or collecting loans are very cumbersome, so borrowing becomes a very difficult thing.

“Before a state borrows, the Federal Government must give approval,” he said.

He further said that the issue of irregular payment of salaries predated his administration.

“The first civilian governor of the state, the late Aper Aku, had the same challenge and the other governors after him faced the same challenge.

“We will try our best to resolve all the salary issues in a record time,” he said.

The governor also said that it was very expensive to do direct primaries than indirect primaries.

He, however, said that if it becomes a law, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would strategise in order to do what the law directs.