APC asks Fayose to account for N24bn received from Fed Govt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has asked Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop peddling lies on e-payment system introduced by former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration, saying discrediting the scheme as harbouring ghost workers with attendant inability to pay workers was insincerity taken too far.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, also asked the Governor to account for N22 billion federal roads construction refund he received from the Federal Government and another N2 billion Ecological Fund.

He noted that Fayose’s claim was another lie to explain away his alleged greed, insensitivity and lack of commitment to the welfare of Ekiti workers.

‘The e-payment system is the system embraced all over the world, including many PDP-controlled states and at the Federal level. The e-payment system has proved very effective in Ekiti State as workers were not owed any salary for the period Fayemi was in the saddle. The system has also been used by Fayose in paying workers since he assumed office; and so when did he suddenly discover that the e-payment system is not good?’ Olatubosun queried.

He said if there was any system that had potential to eliminate fraud in salary payment, e-payment was the answer.

The APC spokesman alleged that by his claim, the governor was up to a systematic sacking of more workers some of whom he had sacked since he assumed office.

‘We are aware of his plans to bring into Ekiti civil service outsiders from Ibadan who are his cronies against the civil service rules,’ Olatubosun alleged, adding:‎

‎’Ekiti workers should ask Fayose why the same e- payment system ensured their regular salary payment as at when due under the Fayemi administration but it is now impossible under his administration despite reduction in the work force as many workers, including permanent secretaries, have been sacked.

‘Many employment schemes that take millions of naira from government’s treasury have been cancelled by the governor, six months moratorium was granted in bond debt repayment, which enables him to save N3 billion.

‘There is 60 per cent cut in running grants and allowances to workers and traditional rulers. This is apart from N22 billion refund on federal roads constructed by Ekiti State and N2 billion Ecological Fund he had received. The question is; what is Fayose doing with all these funds,? Olatunbosun queried.‎

He added that it was a height of wickedness for the governor who claims to be a friend of the masses to allocate N200 million monthly to himself as security vote and another N250 million  running grant as first line charge while at the same time blind to the suffering of workers whose average salary was N28,000.‎

‘How many times will this governor conduct verification exercise after the‎ first two exercise during which three teachers died in a road crash along Ise-Ekiti road while travelling for their verification exercise?’ he queried.

Olatubosun challenged the governor to tell Ekiti people how much he pays monthly to his Anambra and Ogun states election sponsors who, he  alleged, helped him fix June 21, 2014 governorship election.

While symphatising with the workers for ‘falling prey to the antics of Fayose’, he urged them to use all legal means to demand for their pay and \’resist any disguised attempt to sack them as the current verification exercise is another smokescreen for a fraudulent agenda against workers’ interest’.