Following the verification of workers by the Ekiti State Government, about 250 dead workers have been discovered to have received salaries in the state.

The Special Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, made this known in a statement he made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Olayinka, who was reacting to an allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that Governor Ayodele Fayose was deceiving the state's workers with the verification, said "over 1,000 fake workers have already been discovered on the payroll that ought not to be receiving salaries."

Ekiti APC, in a statement by its publicity secretary in the state, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, on Sunday, alleged that Fayose was "deceiving the state's workers over failed promises to pay their salaries," saying "endless workers' verification exercise designed to ‎keep faith with the government is a wicked tactic to secure workers' cooperation."

But the state government described Olatunbosun's stance as 'shameful,' saying "the persistent claim by the APC in the state that Governor Fayose was deceiving workers with the verification exercise highlights its shamelessness."

Olayinka said: "Over 250 workers that are already dead have been receiving salaries through the e-payment system introduced and contracted to a Lagos-based company by the immediate past APC government."

According to Olayinka, the APC should "first remove the timber in its eyes before aspiring to remove the toothpicks in other people's eyes," saying "the party should prevail on its governors in neighbouring states to pay workers that are owed as much as eight months' salaries."

He said: "We commenced workers verification exercise last month and we have kept faith with our covenant with the workers by paying the April salary of those already cleared.

"As of today, we have discovered more than 1,000 people that were receiving salaries fraudulently, out of which over 250 are dead. The over 1,000 fake workers have now been deleted from the payroll and the exercise is still ongoing."

On the claim by the APC that the state government received N22 billion from the Federal Government as refund for construction of federal roads in the state, Olayinka said; "Only a demented mind would believe that a refund of N22 billion was made by the Federal Government on N11 billion road project.

"For instance, Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road on which they claimed Federal Government refunded N22 billion was awarded by the Segun Oni government for N7.4 billion. In 2013, the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi increased it to N11 billion, claiming the increment was to ensure quick completion of the project.

"So, how could Federal Government have refunded N22 billion on a N11 billion road project? These people just love to tell lies, hoping that they can again lie their way into the hearts of Ekiti people, but the people already know them and their stock in trade."

•Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Governor Fayose.

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