HOW ILL COPE WITH PAUCITY OF FUNDS AS GOVERNOR - HEMBE INTERVIEWER Before I ask you wha

HOW ILL COPE WITH PAUCITY OF FUNDS AS GOVERNOR - HEMBE

INTERVIEWER Before I ask you what and what you want to do if elected as governor, tell me, Benue state is said to be heavily indebted. How will you cope with paucity of funds?

HEMBE My team is working on ascertaining the magnitude of the states indebtedness. From records Ive seen, if the present government succeeds in taking the loan approved by the Titus Uba-led assembly, it could rise to about N180 billion. We pray there are no further loans taken before May 29th of 2023. To answer your question, we will simply reduce our cost of governance, improve on revenue generation and partner with local and international development partners. This way, we can deliver good governance to the people of Benue state.

When elected as Governor, by Gods grace, the first line of action will be to reduce the cost of governance to the barest minimum. For instance, how many advisers does a governor need to succeed? Certainly not hundreds and thousands as has been the case in the state. It is simply financial recklessness for a governor to have Special Adviser, Senior Special Adviser, Principal Special Adviser, Special Assistant, Senior Special Assistant, Principal Special Assistant, Personal Assistant, etc advising and assisting the governor on just one area of governance. Mind you, theres a Commissioner, a Permanent Secretary, Heads of Departments, and Directors in a ministry saddled with the responsibility of running that aspect of government- I mean that very aspect the governor has numerous assistants. We will not run such a financially reckless government, if Benue people elect me as Governor in 2023.

Secondly, our state internal revenue collection has been oftentimes used as political settlements. So, we have a situation where just a little of taxes collected from taxpayers gets to the coffers of the government. There are times non-professional third-party tax collectors are commissioned to be in charge of revenue collection. Whatever they remit, thats what the Chairperson of the board will be forced to take. Worst of it is when BIRS becomes some persons backyard garden. We will not continue with that corrupt pattern. I strongly believe that if the numerous holes siphoning holes are blocked, our IGR will become reasonable.

Thirdly, there are several development partners with a lot of money out there, looking to partner serious state governments. Nasarawa state for instance has been attracting them to their state. My government will do all that needs to be done to attract such development partners. And Im not talking about MoUs as weve come to know in the state. We will look at what we need to do to qualify for these development programs and well sort them out. Theres no single state developing today without these keys partnerships. Of course I am not forgetting local development partners such as community based organisations, faith-based organisations etc. Theres so much we can achieve with such partnerships.

Government has been run in Benue state in the wrong direction since 1999, that sadly, most people have gotten used to it, thinking it is a norm meanwhile, are about falling off the cliff. Someone told me that I should stop talking this way else some key persons will not support me. Theyll say what will be their benefit if Ill not appoint them to also chop like others have done before. Its true I may lose the support of such persons. But we simply cannot continue that way and expect that Benue state should survive. By the way, havent we seen some of those who once were chopping state money become poor?

Benue state desperately needs someone with the political will to halt this drift someone who has the courage to fight the waves pushing the ship in the wrong direction, and turn around the vehicle of governance towards the right direction. I make bold to say that Herman Hembe has the political will and courage to do that. I have done it before as a Rep Member for VandeikyaKonshisha. All I need is the support of the good people of Benue state, and God almighty. Thats all. In truth, I cannot turn Benue state into a London or Dubai in 4 years time as some candidates are promising but, Ill kick-start the journey with the turnaround which subsequent administrations can build upon. That way, one day, Benue state will be a paradise.

Rt. Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe,
Labour Party Guber Candidate for Benue 2023.

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