Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has decried the withholding of N62 billion by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration meant to clear salaries and pension arrears by his administration.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Michael Inalegwu who coveyed the governor’s feeling after the State Excutive Council meeting in Makurdi on Tuesday, therefore, challenge federal government to release the money with immediate effect to clear pending financial obligations.

According to Mr. Inalegwu, the federal government also withheld another two billion dollars which the present administration had paid full counterpart funds which would have been used to better the lot of Benue people.

He explained that such acts of Federal Government were committed against the Ortom administration in order for APC in the state to capitalize on non payment of salary and pension arrears to clinch to victory at the polls even though similar monies we’re released to states like Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Ebonyi among others.

“In recent times, the killing of 37 worshipers in Kalu local Government area of Nasarawa state and killing of 6 people at Adaka in Makurdi local Government area on Tuesday by terrorists Fulani herdsmen is a clear case of negligence of the Buhari administration which cannot secure lives of Nigerians”.

The Commissioner disclosed that the EXCO also approved the naming of 9.7km Terwase Agbadu road leading to Apir in Makurdi local government after late Major Gideaon Orkar who was executed by the military junta over alleged involvement in a coup.

Speaking on the alleged recruitment of 7,000 workers as the administration prepared to leave office, the Commissioner who denied same, explained that due process was followed in the employment of 1,500 primary school teachers, 1,500 civil servants which he said, some of them are casual workers who had spent over ten years on casual status.

Urging members of the people to disregard such allegations, Mr Inalegwu, advised the incoming administration of the All Progressives Congress in the state against sacking those employed as they are Benue indegine.

According to him, N6 billion domicile in the PENCON account is still intact and records is to be handed over to the incoming administration to continue with the programme so as to lay the issue of pension in the state to a permanent rest.