By; Jacob Onjewu Dickson
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has directed immediate withdrawal of conditional charges introduced by the management of the Benue State University and urged the institution to revert to the old regime of charges.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, he directed the management to sort out those who already paid the new charges amicably.
Governor Ortom stated that he took the action following concerted appeals from major stakeholders in the university including prominent citizens, parents, students as well as the general populace.
He said as a democratically elected Governor he has a responsibility to be sensitive to the views of the people and their plight, hence the decision.
The Governor assured that the state government would explore other avenues to raise internally generated revenue to address the concerns that led the university to introduce the charges.
“We are also verifying the sources of income of the university and if we see that there is need for a review of the conditional charges we shall seek inputs from all major stakeholders including members of the State House of Assembly,” Governor Ortom stressed.
He regretted the discomfort and pains which the development might have caused and commended the management of the institution and the students for not allowing the issue to degenerate further.
Governor Ortom also expressed appreciation to all those who were concerned and took the time to raise the matter with him personally or at other appropriate fora.
