Business
How Governor Ortom has turned us to beggars, wheel-barrow Pushers’ – Benue state workers lament salaries debt
Primary school teachers in Benue State have lamented the non payment of salaries by the Governor Samuel Ortom-led state government, adding that some of them now sell petty items in the market to survive.
A primary school teacher with Universal Basic Education, UBE, Arabic girls, situated at Kwararafa quarters in Makurdi, Benue State, who spoke with DAILY POST on the ground of anonymity said the current administration had only paid them five months since January, out of which, 2 months were paid in December.
The source claimed that the state government paid primary school teachers “January salary in August, February in October, March in November and April in December.”
According to her, “From the beginning of this year, Ortom has only paid primary school teachers five months.
“Ortom was initially owing us for nine months. He paid primary school teachers January in August, February in October, March in November and April in December.”
The aggrieved teacher said the Benue State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, attempted to mediate in the matter but failed as the governor was not ready to leave up to his administration’s responsibilities.
She alleged that officials of the NLC had to walk out on the governor during a meeting as he asked them to sign that he would pay five months while the other months should be forfeited.
“The NLC wrote a letter to Otorm stating the problems facing teachers in the state.
“Following the letter, he called officials of the body to a meeting but we heard they walked out on him because he asked them to sign that he would pay us for five months while we forfeit the other months. We do not know whether that’s true or whether the labour leaders have been compromised.
“The case of primary school teachers in Benue State is something else. Currently, we are facing non payment of allowances, death benefits, non payment of pensions, lack of promotion, leave grant for over 10 years etc..,” She said.
The source maintained that the salaries being owed started from the inception of the current administration and not the previous administration of Gabriel Suswam.
“The current debt started from the inception of the Otorm’s administration, contrary to insinuations, the previous governor, Gabriel Suswam only owed us four months and it was paid after bailout fund was released.
‘’Teachers are suffering; some of my colleagues now sell yams, soya beans, maize in the market and some of us, our children have been sent home from school because we can no longer afford the school fees.”
A staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, who wished not to be mentioned corroborated the story.
He alleged that the governor was hoarding funds because of his alleged ambition to – the governorship election in 2019.
“Primary school teachers in Benue, at a point were being owed nine months salaries but as Christmas approached, the state government paid just two months and now they are owed seven months.
“This debt started from the inception of the new administration and I strongly believe that he, Ortom, is hoarding the money because he is planning to re-contest in 2019.
“His explanation has always been that allocation from Federation account was not encouraging but I don’t believe that. I’m of the opinion that the money he is hoarding will be released during the 2019 election period,” the source told our correspondent.
Another teacher who spoke with our correspondent from Otukpa in Benue State said the situation of primary school teachers in the Ogbadibo headquarters has remained pathetic until December when the governor had a change of mind and decided to pay them two months out of the 9 months they were being owed. According to him ‘’ The money does not mean anything to me. It didn’t solve my problem as we must first of all settle our debts. As speak with you, I’m on my way to pay a debt I had been owing since Ortom refused to pay us.
‘’We also need to manage this two months he paid very well as we don’t know when next he will think about us. The truth is that even the union that is supposed to speak for us has has been compromised, so no one can ask questions.
A local government worker in Makurdi, Benue State said it was nearly 8 months of no pay before the governor paid 2 months out of it. Lamenting the situation, he said most local government workers have been turned beggars as a result of the situation. He said people could no longer afford the least medical cure. People are finding it difficult to buy a sachet of panadol. They have given up on the government. A government that is helpless about the situation of workers in his case will lose the people. I think Ortom has already lost the people.
‘’He collected 12.7 billion share of the paris club, and one wonders what used with that money. Is Ortom ever willing and ready to make sacrifices for his people? People are no longer interested in going to their offices. Majority of people have gone into barrow pushing and other things. Go to the various ministries and give a commissioner N10,000 and see the celebration. It goes to tell you that only the governor is syphoning the money. He said we should go to farm. Is it not when you have eaten very well that you can till the soil? Even if Ortom is given 100 billion, he won’t pay workers. I think he has an agenda which is clearly anti-people.’’
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar
In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.
The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.
With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.
Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19
It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.
Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.
GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.
In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.
For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.
Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”
Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.
With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.
About HabariPay
HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:
GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com
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