By Mathew Ajai-Kume
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom will Monday be conferred with the ‘Life Patron of NULGE in Nigeria’ award, by the national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Makurdi.
Benue State Chairman of NULGE, Comrade Terungwa Igbe, in a letter to the governor, intimating him of the national president’s intended visit to the state for the conferment of the award, said the honour was in recognition of Ortom’s support and inestimable contribution to the emancipation of the local government system.
The letter explained that Governor Ortom actively supported the passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill by the 7th Benue State House of Assembly.
“The NULGE family in Nigeria resolved to appreciate you with this award because you are the first governor to have fully granted autonomy to the local government in Benue State by approving for their participation as union leaders, including NULGE in the state joint account,” Igbe noted.
The award, which is to be presented to the governor, by NULGE National President, Comrade Ahmed Labbo, was an initiative of the late NULGE National President, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel with the approval of the National Working Committee of the union before his demise.