Salaries: Samuel Ortom Orders Payment of 'Victorious' Lobi Stars Players

By John Charles Makurdi Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to pay Lobi Stars players their outstanding salaries and allowances, BSN Sports reports. The Makurdi club were on Friday declared winners of the Premier League, and Ortom praised the team for the achievement. The governor directed the finance ministry commissioner, David Olofu, to commence the process of clearing the debts to enable the team to prepare ahead of the CAF Champions League. Ortom stated this in Makurdi when the officials of the club and the players led by their vice- chairman, Mike Idoko, paid him a courtesy visit. The governor said the commissioner should source money to pay the players because they have brought honour to the state by winning the league. He said, “Wherever there are resources we will bring them out to celebrate the victory. “I thank God for using Lobi Stars to bring joy to us. They have done us proud.’’ The governor also directed the Bureau for Youths and Sports to revive the Governor’s Cup to enable the state to discover new players. The Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, who is also the chairman of the club, commended Ortom for supporting the team owned by the state government.