Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas has commenced the payment of compensations to landowners in Wukari local government council of the state.
The beneficiaries who our reporter learnt number 182, are owners of the land where the Federal University of Wukari, is currently situated.
Recall that the landowners had dragged the state government and the management of the university to the State High Court for alleged refusal to pay compensations for the lands which were acquired from them twelve years ago.
Confirming the commencement of payment, on Thursday, during a telephone interview, the landowner’s lawyer, P.M. Shagnah said the payment is being executed in phases.
He said, “The government of Taraba State under governor Agbu Kefas, has since commenced payment of the long-awaited land compensation to 182 farm owners whose lands were acquired for the establishment of Federal University, Wukari.”
Shagnah, who explained that the governor is committed to paying off the debts acquired by previous regimes, said he has approved and released funds for the commencement of payment to the beneficiaries.
Also confirming the commencement of the payments, the Secretary of the Beneficiary Association, Bawa Ba’aku Bawa Adi, told our reporter that the present government responded to their plight by releasing funds that have since been disbursed to beneficiaries as first instalments.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our reporter narrated their ordeals as a result of the alleged failure of the past administrations to attend to their plights by refusing to pay the compensations.
While lauding the commitment of the current administration towards addressing their plights through the payment of the compensations, they urged the Governor to ensure that all the beneficiaries are settled.