By Sunday Iduh
Stakeholders in the state have thrown their weight behind the ongoing privatisation of government owned moribund enterprises in the state.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom disclosed this Thursday while speaking to journalists shortly after meeting with the stakeholders which comprises of traditional rulers, members of the state executive council and local government chairmen at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
“On privatisation, stakeholders were unanimous that government must privatize. They agreed that, globally, it is the private sectors that drives the economy,”he stated.
The stakeholders called on government to prioritise the participation of indigenous people, which the governor assured that indigenes of the state will be given the right of first refusal. He called on the sons and daughters of the state to participate in the process to enhance development of the state. Recall that few weeks ago, the Benue State Council on Privatisation and Commercialization advertised the companies that were up for sale in the newspaper.
At the meeting, the governor was also urged to fast track the formation of the Benue State Volunteer Guard to complement operations of conventional security operatives in the state.
The governor who disclosed that machinery to amend the Community Volunteer Guard Law, 2000 has been put in place, maintained that due process will be followed in the recruitment of the volunteer guards with inputs from traditional rulers, in order to have credible members.
The Tor Tiv Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse and Och’Idoma Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa were represented at the meeting by Tor Kwande, Timothy Ahile and First Class Chief for Apa-Agatu, Chief Baba Odangla respectively. Also in attendance were some members of the state executive council and all the 23 local government chairmen.