Fayose Admits Owing Ekiti Workers N7.5bn

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has said he sometimes has sleepless nights because of the huge financial difficulties the state is presently experiencing.

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

According to Punch, the governor made this statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, January 28, 2015, while inaugurating some projects to mark his 100 days in office.

Fayose said the state government needed the sum of N7.5 billion to settle arrears of entitlements of public servants in the state.

According to him, the entitlements included August and September 2014 salaries of some workers, subventions due to state-owned institutions and leave bonuses among others.


“We have about N7.8 billion obligation to workers in the state. The obligations were left behind by the former administration, which include over N2 billion as leave bonus to workers, over N1 billion as deductions from workers’ salaries that the former administration did no remit.

“August and September 2014 salaries they did not pay some workers amounting to over N2 billion. Subventions to tertiary institutions which is over N2 billion as well.

“I don’t know where to start sometimes I cannot sleep. We did not inherit anything tangible from the former administration.

 “ The six months’ moratorium from banks that we got, will lapse in two months and when that happens, banks will be deducting N780 million monthly to service the over N31 billion loans the former administration left behind.

“Also, N800 million is deducted from our statutory allocation monthly to service the N25 billion bond that they took. We have approached four banks to borrow us money to pay at least one month out of the two months salaries owed some workers. But essential things must be done. I call for understanding from people and I am committed to making life better for the people,” the governor said.

The governor however declared that despite the challenges and commitments, he would strive to execute some projects and pay salaries promptly.

He noted that the challenges he met in office would never be an excuse for him not to perform his duties and fulfill his electoral promises.