Ortom responsible for sack of over 4,000 LG Staff employed by his predecessor in 2011- Zam

…Faults implementation of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Benue North West Sanetorial District Dr. Titus Tartenger Zam has revealed that the governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom was solely responsible for the sack of over 4,000 local government staff recruited by the former governor, Gabriel Suswam in 2011.

Zam also explained that Ortom was demarking everything that the former Gov. Gabriel Suswam did when he came on board as the governor as a pay back to what Suswam for deñying him of the PDP governorship ticket in 2015 when he contested for governor on the platform of PDP.

“What I want the public to know is that between Ortom as the governor of the state and myself as an Adviser to him, who has the exclusive power to hire and fire?

“If you say me , then I will ask Ortom to hand over to me but under normal circumstances, Ortom as the Governor of the State has the exclusive power to hire and fire. So Ortom sacked the over 4,000 local government staff recruited by Suswam in 2011 and not me”, Zam explained.

The APC Senatorial hopeful made the disclosure while interacting with Journalists (NUJ) , Makurdi, Benue State about his aspirations to become the Senator representing Benue North West Senatorial District at the National Assembly in the forthcoming general election.

He stated that he has prepared himself to provide to the good people of Benue North West Sanetorial District a quality and effective representation at the Senate and with the support of Benue people, and Zone B in particular, he was determined to emerge victorious in the senatorial election that will be taking place soon.

“Ortom is not a threat to my aspirations because he had failed Benue people in all ramifications, even the 2019 governorship election he won because of the fear of power shift by the people of Zone A, that if Jime became the governor, he may do another 8 years, so they decided to allow him go so that after the expiration of his 8 years tenure, the governorship seat shall shift to Zone A “, he stated.

Dr. Zam also faulted the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law enacted by the Ortom administration. This is based on the ground that the Ortom governnment has failed to make the public to believe that the law was not meant to target a particular group of people by doing the needful for the implementation of the law.

He further explained that the Ortom administration would have established ranches within designated areas in the state for cattle rearing and failure to do this, the herders have perceived that they are being targeted by the law.

He promised to improve the law if he becomes the senator representing the good people of Zone B in the coming election, as well promised to partner with the media for the projection of his vibrant policies and programmes for the people of his constituency,

Responding, the Chairman of NUJ, Benue State Council, Comrade Vincent Nyinongo, appreciated the senatorial hopeful for the courage to come and share with the media his senatorial aspirations and what he has in stock for his constituency and assured him of the desired publicity.

He explained that NUJ under his watch has created an enabling platform for every political candidate to come and showcase their respective aspirations.

Hon. (Chief) Titus Tartenger Zam was born on 15th November, 1968 at Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

He had his early education at Roman Catholic Mission (R.C.M) Primary School, Achagh-Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area from 1975-1981, where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate.

He proceeded to Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Naka, from 1981-1986 where he bagged the General Certificate of Education (GCE), after which he attended the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Makurdi and obtained the Interim Joint Matriculation Board, IJMB, Certificate in 1989. He thereafter gained admission into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to study Political Science between 1989 and 1992, where he graduated with a B.Sc.

Hon. Titus Zam proceeded on the compulsory National Youth Service (NYSC) between 1993 and 1994 after which he returned to school and obtained his M.Sc. Political Science at the Benue State University from 2002 to 2004, with specialization in Public Administration. His Thesis was on “The Impact of Political Instability on the Productivity of the Civil Service”.

To cap it all, he holds a Ph.D from the Benue State University, Makurdi with specialization in political science. His area of research is on ‘Democracy and Development in Benue’.

He was employed in the Benue State Civil Service in 1994. While in service, Hon. Zam became the branch Secretary of what later became Civil Service Union between 1996–2001. Following his passion for politics and the call by his people to serve, he voluntarily resigned his civil service appointment in March 2003 to contest for the chairmanship of Gwer-West Local Government.

Hon.Titus Zam was appointed Transition Committee Chairman for Gwer-West Local Government Council from August 2003 to March 2004 by the then Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. George Akume and was subsequently elected Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Council under the same administration where he served from April 2004 – 2006. He was elected General Secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Benue State Chapter in 2004-2006. It is this tutelage under Sen Dr. George Akume that has crystalized into Hon. Zam’s eventful political career.

Between 2012 – 2014, he served as the Director of Publicity for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Benue State Chapter and later elected State Organizing Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) from March, 2014 – July 2015.
Hon. Titus Zam was on the 21st of July, 2015 sworn in as the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He was in a dramatic twist relieved of his appointment on July 12th, 2018 following his refusal to dump his Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defect to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with the governor.

He is married to Mrs. Martha Zam from Shitile, Loco Local Government Area of Benue State. The union is blessed with three children namely; Samuel, Emmanuel and Daniel. His aged mother Mrs. Matina Zam is a devout Catholic. Hon. Zam is a communicant member of the Roman Catholic faith and worships at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Makurdi. His Confirmation name is Thaddeus.

Hon. Titus Zam holds a Chieftaincy title of “Bar U Gboko” (Salt of Gboko) awarded to him by Gboko Area Traditional Council. He is also a recipient of several awards including Best Performing Local Government Chairman in the Health Sector under Senator Dr. George Akume’s administration, awarded by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Benue State Chapter. He has attended several workshops and conferences within and outside Nigeria.

During his active undergraduate days at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Hon. Chief Titus Zam was a member of Students’ Union Government (SUG Parliament), representing ICSA Hall and was later elected the President Students’ Union Government (SUG) in 1992. He is a Distinguished Alumni, ABU Zaria and a member Markudi Club 1930. He enjoys reading and playing Badminton.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY:
Putting the people first