By Sunday Iduh
Governor, Samuel Ortom has charged members of the reconstituted Benue State Council on Privatisation and Commercialisation of Enterprises to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the performance of their duties as stipulated in the Benue State Privatisation and Commercialisation Law, 2010.
The governor who stated this during the inauguration of the council at the Benue Peoples House said “your appointment to serve the state as members of this council is based on the trust and confidence the state government has in you as the right calibre of persons to serve and add value to industrialize the state through private sector participation in the economy of the state.
“As we are all aware, these state enterprises have been moribund for long. While the machinery and equipments of these industries have not been put to use and have become obsolete, the economic value of these assets keep depreciating annually. As a result, there is no justification for the state government to keep wasting her scarce resources in maintaining these enterprises.
“To free the state from these economic mess, the Benue State House of Assembly in September, 2010 approved the Privatisation and Commercialisation of enterprises. To that effect, a Privatisation and Commercialisation Law, 2010 was enacted to guide the exercise.
He said, in line with the law, the Benue State Government constituted the first Privatisation and Commercialisation Council on March 6, 2016 to serve for a tenure of four (4) years, which expired on March 4, 2020.
According to the governor, “if the enterprises and establishments are privatised to capable investors, their operations would become more efficient and effective which would in turn create wealth, generate employment and stimulate economic growth,” he stated.
He noted that the annual budgetary allocations to such enterprises would be utilized in running other developmental needs of the state.
Chairman of the Council, Christopher Abah who responded on behalf of other members, pledged commitment of members to their duties for the interest of the state.
Other members of the council include Barrister Michael Gusa, Barrister Merga Kachina, Barrister Alex Adum, Mr Godwin Anya, Amanda ‘Lumun Feese, Iyornumbe Ime and Annune Fidelis as Member/Secretary.
The reconstituted council is to serve four (4) years.