My Cabinet Will Be Lean, Says Ortom

BENUE State Governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that he would constitute a lean cabinet to run his government.

Speaking at the winding down ceremony of the Ortom/Abounu Governorship Campaign Organization at Royal Choice Inn in Makurdi, he said that the dwindling financial fortunes called for austerity measures.

Dr. Ortom said he would constitute the cabinet in consultation with major stakeholders who he said should nominate credible people with impeccable character and ability to deliver as he was committed to promoting excellence at the expense of sycophancy and mediocrity.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, stressed that his administration will also have zero tolerance for corruption and that corrupt public officials will be disgraced.

According to him members of his cabinet would subscribe to a code of conduct, which will abhor corruption even as a mechanism shall be put in place to monitor them.

He also dispelled rumors making the rounds that new recruitments and replacements into the civil service were being secretly made by the current government at the state level.

The Governor-elect also said he had reached an agreement with the State governor that local government elections will not be held until the economy of the state improved.

Ortom stated that he believed that as a gentleman the governor would keep his word otherwise he will know what to do when he takes over.

He said discussion with Dr Suswam about the need to put the appointment of first class and other chiefs on hold until the current salary and pension arreard.