Ekiti Debt: “Fayose Has Money To Pay 3 Months Salaries” – Ex-Finance Commissioner

Yinka Oyebode
A former Commissioner for Finance in Ekiti State, Mr Dapo Kolawole, has cited “gross incompetence” and “lack of capacity” on the part of Governor Ayodele Fayose for the lingering economic crisis in the state.
Kolawole, who was Commissioner for finance in the state between 2010 and 2014, said if the state’s resources were properly managed, the state wouldn’t be in the present economic mess.
The former Commissioner who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said despite the economic downturn in the country, Ekiti State could still afford to pay three months workers salaries, thereby reducing the economic crisis that has crippled the state.
Ekiti is owing workers’ five months salary arrears and several months pension.
Kolawole said the state could still pay the salaries of workers from money the government had received in form of refunds and palliatives in the last few months, if the administration in the state was sincere.
The former Commissioner said the economic crisis in the state was being compounded because Fayose was running the government on a negative goodwill, having failed to attract support from developmental agencies, institutions as well as well meaning citizens of the state.
Specifically, Kolawole challenged Fayose to explain why he is owing local government workers, despite the fact that the local government fund comes directly from the federation account.
He also challenged the governor to explain to Ekiti indigenes what happened to the Federal Government’s refund on federal roads.
He pointed out that the state is suffering today because the governor lacked the required creativity, intellectual ability and the capacity to lead in critical moments.
He alluded to other state governments who have embraced the task of governance with every sense of responsibility, thereby repositioning their states.
“But what do we have in Ekiti. We have someone who never promised anything, so could not deliver anything.”, said Kolawole, who added that Fayose lacks the required capacity to lead at critical moment.
The former Commissioner who admitted that the immediate past administration in the state headed by Dr Kayode Fayemi took loans, said the various loans taken by the administration were tied to regenerative projects and with a well structured repayment plan, that had a seven year term at the maximum.
He wondered why the incumbent administration in the state refused to apply the refunds to meet the loan repayment as planned.
Kolawole said: “Yes we took a bond of N25billion, and the repayment plan was well structured. 50 percent of the loan was regenerative and 50 per cent social infrastructure like road, bridges and water projects. And the repayment was tied to some specific receipts from the federation account.”

Source:- punchng