The debt profile of Benue State currently stands at N90 billion, according to preliminary investigation by government.
Governor Samuel Ortom told students and other union leaders from the Benue State University at separate meetings in Makurdi yesterday that the debt includes N50 billion for ongoing contracts, N18 billion for certified ones, N12 billion for salary arrears and about N10 billion for bonds and bank loans.
Government, he said, has already received offers from some banks and would soon approach the State House of Assembly for approval to obtain a loan for the purpose of settling its financial obligations.
It will start by paying its workers one month’s salary across board and to ensure the take off of both the executive and legislative arms of government.
Gov.Ortom said the move was to demonstrate to the state workforce that he was seriously concerned about their plight.
He appealed to lecturers and other workers at the university to call off their strike and give him time to look into their grievances, including the issue of accreditation at the institution.
The said that the plight of the students and their parents should be considered.
President of the student union government, Comrade Bobby Tavershima, lamented that the students of the university have been at home for four months, but pledged that they would not do anything to undermine the new administration.
Representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Obande Obande, appealed to the Governor to clear the arrears of bursary owed students.
Professor Julius Ashiko who spoke for the unions regretted that the institution’s medical students are into their 13th year instead of the six years they ought to have spent.
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