Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday distanced himself from the decision of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to cut staff strength of the public service as a way out of the current economic challenges facing the nation.

Governor Fayose said that the decision could not have represented the collective will of the NGF, alleging that: “It could at best be described as an agenda of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its central government, which appears to be clueless about revamping the Nigerian economy.”

Fayose, who stated categorically that Ekiti State should be counted out of such arrangement, insisted; “I like to restate that workers remain critical stakeholders in governance in Nigeria and as such, their rights and privileges must be protected and guaranteed at all times in the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.

“It’s painful that a Government which indulged in propaganda and promised to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians could consider the idea of retrenching workers within its first six months in office alongside the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products.

“It’s a known fact that some state Governors plunged their states into huge debts very carelessly and recklessly thus mortgaging the lives and souls of their states.

“There is therefore no moral justification for a resort to job cut. The social implications of laying off workers at this critical period include social crimes like robbery, suicide and all sorts of malfeasance.”

According to him, governors must go and engage with their people, through interactions on the way forward.

Continuing, Fayose stated that “sate governors and parties that cannot cope with basic obligations particularly payment of workers salaries may want to step down for more competent manager.

“State governors must ensure drastic reduction of costs of governance especially those of pleasure for such executives; central and state governments must cut down on foreign travels and huge estacodes; and we all must look inwardly for alternative means of sourcing revenue rather that resort to borrowing.”