Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has proffered a “National Dialogue” as the panacea for various agitations in the country.
He stated this at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi when he received participants of the Senior Executive Programme of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State, who paid him a courtesy visit on Monday.
According to him, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) needs further amendments to make it a more democratic document, stressing that combined with a national dialogue, the country would be saved from further crises.
“Benue as the Food Basket of Nation would continue to advocate the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria. The challenges confronting the country are surmountable. Government and people of Benue State remain committed to justice, equity and fairness to all.
“The programmes of NIPSS is quite laudable. It is a good thing that many Benue indigenes had also graduated from the institute and made various contributions to national development.
The theme for this year’s NIPSS Senior Executive Programme – “getting things done: strategies for policy and programme implementation”, is apt”, Ortom noted.
Leader of the delegation, Professor Fatai Aremu, said they were in the state on a study tour as the Institute had selected Benue among states to be visited by the Senior Executive Programme as a result of the achievements recorded by the present administration in the state.
He appreciated Governor Ortom for the warm reception accorded the participants since arrival in the state yesterday, while a member of the Study Group Six, Mrs. Mary Uduk said at the end of the tour, they would be better informed about activities and programmes as well as successes and challenges of the Ortom administration.
