Ortom inaugurates 15 commissioners, 17 special advisers

According to the report, governor Ortom said during the inauguration in Makurdi that his administration was anchored on the fear of God.

He then pledged to entrench core values which included reconciliation, discipline, integration and the pursuit of peace among many.

Ortom urged the new commissioners and special advisers to be transparent, accountable and fair to all in the discharge of their duties.

He warned them against acts of corruption, especially embezzlement of funds.

He said “if you chop money, money will chop you, you must be frugal and sensitive to public perception and commit public funds only to the advancement of the people’s good.’’

The governor also urged them to devise ingenuous means of generating revenue to augment receipts from the federation account.

He added that the decision to reduce the cost of governance was the compelling force in reducing the size of the executive council from 17 commissioners to 13, while special advisers were slashed from 28 to 18.

He warned them to show absolute loyalty to him and his government even though they were from different geographical brackets across the state.

In a related development, the people of Buruku Local Government of the state had organised a reception in honour of Mr Sekav Iortyom, who was inaugurated as commissioner on Tuesday.

Speaking during the reception, former Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mrs Rhoda Akoh, advised the commissioner to work hard to justify his appointment.

She said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the country was determined to correct the mistakes of the past and put the country on the path of industrial and political greatness.

Also, Chairman of the occasion, Dr Ugoo Iwoo, urged the commissioner to canvass for the creation of an additional state constituency for the local government.

Responding, Iortyom pledged to work hard “to actualise the noble objectives of the Ortom administration.’’