ORTOM’S LOAN REQUEST OF N2.2 BILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE BENUE ASSEMBLY.

The Benue House of Assembly approved Gov. Samuel Ortom’s request to access two loans totaling N2.2 billion to pay the state’s counterpart funding on two schemes on Tuesday.

The United Bank for Africa PLC is expected to make the first loan of N1.2 billion to pay a counterpart contribution to the Federal Government’s statutory allocation in the state’s Universal Basic Education Programme.

The state’s counterpart contribution in the Federal Government’s World Bank-assisted Agro Climatic Resilience project in semi-arid landscapes will be paid with the second loan of N1 billion from Zenith Bank PLC.

In previous correspondences, the governor told the House of Assembly that the loans were obtained in accordance with existing laws governing commercial bank borrowings.

Mr Williams Ortyom (PDP-Guma), who moved the loan approval motion, stated that such counterpart contributions would elicit intervention from the Federal and donor agencies.

Ortyom praised the state government for always meeting expectations by providing counterpart funding for primary school infrastructure development.

Mr Terkaa Ucha (PDP-Tiev) seconded the motion and acknowledged the state government’s efforts to renovate many schools.

Ucha urged the state government to address the issue of insufficient staffing in schools and to prioritize the welfare of teachers.