Gov. Samuel Ortom has advised Benue workers to seek multiple streams of income to enhance their livelihoods as the stay-at-home order against COVID-19 continued.
The governor’s advice is contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Terver Akase, on Friday in Makurdi.
According to the statement, Ortom appealed to the workers to take advantage of the good weather and arable lands in the state to venture into commercial farming as a stream of income.
Akase explained that the Ortom’s administration had taken proactive measures to diversify its economy to boost revenue generation following the impending recession occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.
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“Governor Ortom stresses that his administration has embarked on a number of measures to boost agriculture and increase food production.
“One of such steps is the recent sale of 50 tractors to Benue farmers at 60 per cent subsidy.
“He maintains that as part of measures to mitigate the negative effect of the looming recession, the present administration has resolved to take advantage of Benue’s rich agricultural potential, by not only producing food for consumption but also for commercial purposes,” the statement read.
It said that the governor commends the workers for their “commitment, understanding and cooperation particularly in the fight against COVID-19’’.
In the statement, Ortom noted that the workers had demonstrated “uncommon determination and professionalism in all sectors to support the government in taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease”.
It noted that the governor, however, singled out workers on essential duties such as health and other services for putting in extra hours to ensure that Benue never had additional COVID-19 cases.
It added that Ortom stated that their sacrifices were beyond reward but urged them to sustain that level of patriotism.
Ortom, therefore, pledged to ensure that the welfare of workers, especially salaries and pensions remained his priority, the statement said.
According to the statement, Ortom recalled that the ravaging effect of the coronavirus on the economy compelled the state government to review downward the 2020 Budget from N189 billion to N119 billion.
It noted that Ortom explained that the review was in response to the impending global economic crisis which is estimated to contract the economy of Nigeria by 3.4 per cent, a situation which experts extrapolate as having an adverse impact on the states.
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