Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Tuesday inaugurated 15 new commissioners and 17 special advisers as members of the state Executive Council (EXCO).

The governor said during the inauguration in Makurdi that his administration was anchored on the fear of God.

He then pledged to entrench core values which included reconciliation, discipline, integration and the pursuit of peace among many.

Ortom urged the new commissioners and special advisers to be transparent, accountable and fair to all in the discharge of their duties.

He warned them against acts of corruption, especially embezzlement of funds.

He said “if you chop money, money will chop you, you must be frugal and sensitive to public perception and commit public funds only to the advancement of the people’s good.’’

The governor also urged them to devise ingenuous means of generating revenue to augment receipts from the federation account.

He added that the decision to reduce the cost of governance was the compelling force in reducing the size of the executive council from 17 commissioners to 13, while special advisers were slashed from 28 to 18.

He warned them to show absolute loyalty to him and his government even though they were from different geographical brackets across the state.