Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, revealed how his predecessor, Ayo Fayose, allegedly squandered N18billion Paris Club Refund to the state.

The governor, while featuring on a monthly state-wide Radio and Television programme ‘MEET YOUR GOVERNOR” said clarification on the matter became imperative to correct outright mischief orchestrated by agents of former governor.

The programme was monitored by INDEPENDENT in Ado-Ekiti.

Fayemi, expressed worry that Fayose, who in spite of several financial life lines failed to meet the yearnings of Ekiti people.

He hinted that workers are still being owed salaries for an average of five months.

Fayemi described as false the rumour making the rounds that his government had collected a sum of N11.5 billion Paris Club barely two months after he assumed office.

“Let those making the allegation come with verifiable proofs to substantiate their claim. Let them come with evidence.

“I have not collected any money in the fashion of Road Intervention or Paris Club Refund.

“Governor Fayose had the opportunity of paying bulk of these backlog of salaries and pensions. He collected a sum of N18billion out of the N21.5billion due to Ekiti in the Fund, so what is left for Ekiti is just N3.5billion which can’t pay a month if we add the overhead costs of subvented institutions.

“As we speak, we are doing a lot of cleansing and that had reduced the monthly pay to workers to N2.1billion. Those not properly employed had been left out until they provide evidence. The medical workers that were employed on consequential ground had been reabsorbed.

“I decided to delay appointment of politicians into government for me to be able to pay our workers. With this, Ekiti can now know who is the real and honest friend of the masses.

“I don’t want to do media trial for anyone, so I have hired the services of a renowned audit firm to look into our finances and the forensic state’s accounts will be published during our 100 days in office in January 2019,” he said.

He said the State’s Anti-Grazing Law signed into law by Fayose’s administration had not been suspended, clarifying that efforts will be made to rein in rampaging herders in the state by not being tolerated to carry assorted rifles.

“The ultimate aim of any government is to make people safe. We are not going to tolerate kidnapping here. That is not what we are. We are also going to protect our farmers against invaders.

“We are giving incentives to security to be able to deliver. It was the same Hilux vans that we gave to the police that are still being used and the three Armoured Personnel Carriers, nothing was added under Fayose,” he alleged.

Fayemi said his government has paid the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fee for all SS3 students in the state as part of his commitment free education.

He also warned that any principal found collecting illegal money in public schools will have himself to blame.

“But let me clarify here: It was only the N500 per term for primary and N1,000 for secondary development fee introduced by Fayose that was abrogated. Any other fee agreed by the school including money for uniforms would be paid by parents,” he clarified.

The governor said he had not reneged on his avowed commitment to offset all the outstanding salary and pension before marking the first year in office.

On security, Fayemi said his government had restored incentives to security outfits in the state to be able to ensure safety of lives and property, adding that he was strategizing with state’s security chiefs on how to erect a unique security architecture for Ekiti residents to be save at Yuletide season.

Reacting through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, the ex-governor told Fayemi to pay workers instead of his weak attempt at deceiving the people.

Fayose said Fayemi should rather explain to Ekiti people, especially the workers why he prompted the federal government to withhold N2.1 billion arrears of Budget Support and N14.1 billion Paris Club Refund, which was approved for payment to the State in June this year.

•Sourced from a Daily Independent report

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