Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Monday, December 17, blamed paucity of funds as the main reason he is yet to announce the appointment of political office holders more than two months after being sworn-in.
Since he became governor, Fayemi has run the state with only the Secretary to Government (SSG), the chief of staff, the acting Head of Service (HOS), and the chief press secretary.
Also appointed was the special assistant to the deputy governor.
Those yet to be appointed, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) are the commissioners and special advisers which the governor would have to send to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The report said Fayemi, who addressed a news conference in Ado Ekiti, attributed the sorry state of finances on ground on assuming office on October 16, to the delay.
“I decided to delay appointment of politicians to government to enable me pay workers’ salaries.
“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 then be published during our 100 days in office in Jan. 2019,” he said while lamenting how his predecessor, Ayo Fayose, allegedly wasted N18 billion Paris Club Refund to Ekiti.
Igberetvnews understands that Fayemi expressed worries over how Fayose, who allegedly owed between four and eight months salary and pension arrears at the time he left office, could not defray the backlog of workers’ benefit with the refund.
Fayemi said he remains committed to his commitment to offset all the outstanding salary and pension before marking his first year in office.
Speaking on the rising rate of kidnapping and killings in the state, the governor disclosed that incentives was being given to security outfits in the state to ensure safety of lives and property.
He disclosed that there was collaboration between the state and all security chiefs for a unique security architecture for residents to be safe and secured during the yuletide.
“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 the bulk of these backlogs of salaries and pensions.
“He collected the sum of N18 billion out of the N21.5 billion due to Ekiti in the refund, so what is left as balance for Ekiti to collect now is just N3.5 billion, which can’t pay a month if we add the overhead costs of subvention of institutions.
“As we speak, we are doing a lot of cleansing and that had reduced the monthly pay to workers to N2.1 billion.
“Those not properly employed had been left out until they provide evidence. The medical workers that were employed on consequential ground had been re-absorbed,” he said.
