Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that he will not shield any official in his administration that tampers with public funds from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ortom spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Mission, Aondona in Gwer West local government area of the state. The occasion was held in honour of Mr Titus Zam, special adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He said he has warned all his appointees including the adviser that it is no longer business as usual and that anyone who diverts public funds into personal use will not receive his protection when anti-graft agencies including the EFCC come calling.
He, however, alerted the people that harder times are ahead and that beneficiaries of the bailout should be prudent in their expenditure because the economic future appears to be bleak on account of the falling price of crude oil.
Ortom further urged the people of the state to return to agriculture and creative ideas on wealth creation so as to survive the hard times.
He disclosed that the state government and labour unions have reached an agreement to combine October and November allocations to be able to pay October salaries since the allocation for the month was insufficient.