The Ekiti State Government will this year focus on the rebirth of agriculture as a means of diversifying the economy of the state and bringing a new lease of life to the people.
Also, the state government is to begin the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to some people in the lowest rung of the society.
This was just as it has called on the people to look forward to the year with great hope despite the numerous challenges facing the nation generally, of which the state is one of the federating units.
All these were contained in a New Year broadcast by the state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
According to a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose, who expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their unflinching support in the past year, noted with satisfaction that those fanning the embers of discord and formenting trouble in the state were put to shame.
He said: “Fellow citizens, the out-going year was full of its challenges. As a government, it came with all turbulence against the desperation of a few political rejects and their collaborators to vacate office after their defeat in a free and fair election. They went as far as rallying powerful forces and hiring external aggressors to help them wage war against their own father-land. We defeated them physically on the field. They held the state to ransom for a while before they were scattered by the determined will and unity of our people.
“I thank the Almighty God and security agencies for the reign of peace in our state after the menaces of abductions, kidnappings and inter-ethnic discords. I thank the good people of Ekiti State for their steadfastness with me and their government.
“As a people, we were not spared the pains and deprivations of the downturn in the national economy. During 2015, the international pricing of oil, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, went abysmally down. This negatively and drastically affected our earnings from the federation source of income. The implication of the adverse economic situation threatened the implementation of the 2015 budget. This notwithstanding, government kept faith with its promises to the people of our state.
“We were able to off-set all arrears of salaries and other fringe benefits that we inherited from the previous administration to our workers. We also off-set unremitted deductions. My government commenced the payment of the gross of workers entitlements since October 2014 and we were able to pay workers salaries up till October 2015.”
The governor also listed the various projects executed in the last one year, despite the tough economic situation.
Fayose said: “Furthermore, despite the economic challenges that we face, this administration completed works on the following capital projects:-
(a)The Petim-Housing Estate Road, Ado-Ekiti;
(b) The Awedele- Secretariat- Road, Ado-Ekiti;
(c) Construction of VIP reception hall at Ewi’s palace;
(d) The palace Gallery of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti;
(e)The Irode Matthew street road, Ado-Ekiti;
(f) Asphalting of Fayose market, Ado-Ekiti;
(g) Dualisation and illumination of 1km Afao township road;
(h) Construction of 74 lock-up shops at Elegberun market, Ikere-Ekiti;
(i) Construction of 40 lock-up shops at the Bisi Egbeyemi market, Ado-Ekiti; and
(j) Construction of an ultra modern lecture theatre at the college of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.
“In addition to these completed projects, works are on-going on the following capital projects:-
(a) Extension of the dualisation of Ado-Ikere road;
(b) Construction of an ultra-modern market in Ado-Ekiti;
(c) The Ekiti airstrip project;
(d) The Fajuyi-Okesha flyover project.
“Aside these tangible projects, this Government held an Education Summit last year and its objective manifestations are already being felt.
Similarly, Government was able to achieve the accreditation of programmes in our tertiary education and health facilities.”
Fayose stated that the 2016 Budget had been tailored to reflect the economic realities on ground, but promised that it would be implemented fully and that the people’s welfare would be enhanced, adding that workers’ welfare would not be toyed with under any guise.
He added: “Consequently, this administration will not retrench its workers under any guise nor effect a pay cut. We shall continue to involve the leadership of labour in decisions concerning our incomes and expenditure.
“Government shall also strive to ensure the realization of the following capital projects as outlined in the 2016 budget as the realities of our finances may allow:
(a)Dualisation and asphalt over-lay and Led Light illumination of 1km road in Local Government Headquarters commencing with Efon-Alaaye, Ise, Emure, Omuo and Ikole-Ekiti;
(b) Rehabilitation of Awo-Ara-Ijero road;
(c) Rehabilitation of Iropora-Araromi-Ijero road;
(d) Rehabilitation of Osi-Epe road;
(e) Completion of structures at the Secretariat Complex;
(f) Construction of a new Governor’s Office.
“Fellow citizens, as we go into the new year, I wish to enjoin you to join hands with this government more than ever before, to enable us combat the challenges confronting us. We must improve on our internally generated revenue to augment our earnings from the federation account, through payment of taxes, rates and levies.”
Fayose said summits to address issues relating to agriculture and landlords would hold in the year to chart the way forward for the sectors.
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