100 days in office: Fayose admits owing Ekiti workers N7.5bn

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has
lamented that the state government needed the sum
of N7.5 billion to settle arrears of entitlements of
public servants in the state.
He admitted that he sometimes does not know where
to start which gives him sleepless nights.
*Ayo Fayose
The governor was speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday
while inaugurating some projects to mark his 100
days in office.
According to him, the entitlements included August
and September 2014 salaries of some workers,
subventions due to state-owned institutions, leave
bonus among others.
Fayose declared that despite the challenges and
commitments that he would strive to execute some
projects and pay salaries promptly.
"We have about N7.8 billion obligation to workers in
the state. The obligations were left behind by the
former administration, which include over N2 billion
as leave bonus to workers, over N1 billion as
deductions from workers' salaries that the former
administration did no remit.
"August and September 2014 salaries they did not
pay some workers amounting to over N2 billion.
Subventions to tertiary institutions which is over N2
billion as well.
"I don't know where to start sometimes I cannot
sleep. We did not inherit anything tangible from the
former administration.
" The six months' moratorium from banks that we
got, will lapse in two months and when that happens,
banks will be deducting N780 million monthly to
service the over N31 billion loans the former
administration left behind.
"Also, N800 million is deducted from our statutory
allocation monthly to service the N25 billion bond
that they took. We have approached four banks to
borrow us money to pay at least one month out of
the two months salaries owed some workers. But
essential things must be done. I call for
understanding from people and I am committed to
making life better for the people," the governor said.
The governor further noted that paying workers'
salaries promptly had become a cardinal point of his
administration, given the poor state of the economy
and finances of the state.
The governor noted that the challenges met in office
would never be an excuse for him not to perform his
duties and fulfil his electoral promises.
Among the projects lined up for inauguration were
the rehabilitated Matthew Road, Ado-Ekiti, Bisi
Market, Awedele Road, Ado-Ekiti, drainages along
Ajilosun Road, Ado-Ekiti.
Others are 12 ambulances, 19 patrol vans for security
agencies, 20 motorbikes, three tractors and 12 waste
vehicles.