Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has again advocated the need for a national dialogue, which he says is the panacea for various agitations in the country.
The Governor stated this on Monday 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, in a courtesy call.
Ortom said the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) needs further amendments to make it a more democratic document, stressing that combined with national dialogue, the country would be saved from further crises.
He pointed out that Benue, as the Food Basket of Nation, would continue to advocate the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria, stressing that the challenges confronting the country are surmountable.
Ortom said the government and people of the state remain committed to justice, equity and fairness to all.
He described as laudable the programmes of NIPSS, saying Benue indigenes had also graduated from the institute and made various contributions to national development.
The Governor described as apt the theme for this year’s NIPSS Senior Executive Programme – “getting things done: strategies for policy and programme implementation.”
Meanwhile, the leader of the delegation, Professor Fatai Aremu, said they were in the state for a study tour as the institute had selected Benue among states to be visited by the Senior Executive Programme as a result of achievements recorded by the present administration.
Aremu appreciated Governor Ortom for the warm reception accorded the participants since arrival in the state yesterday.
Also, 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.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK