The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on Friday explained to primary and secondary school head teachers that the state government is expecting the Federal Government to approve more money for it in the ongoing bail-out funds being given to states.
Fayose spoke in Ado-Ekiti during an interactive session with them as part of the preparations for the celebration of this year’s Teachers’ Day.
The governor said the state government applied for over N29 billion and that the 16 local governments put in for N5.6 billion, but the amounts approved and given the state were far below expectations.
The explanation was contained in a statement by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi.
Fayose was quoted as saying that “The state government was only given N9.6 billion, while only N991 million was approved for the local governments. Also, the statutory allocation for the state for the month had a shortfall of about N600 million.
“The FG did not capture most of the items listed and even refused to give any money concerning gratuities and pensions. From what we got, we have paid September 2014 salary and leave bonus. The stakeholders that usually meet monthly to decide how to disburse monthly allocation to all agencies of government will meet and find the way out for us to be able to pay September 2015 salary.”
Fayose, while commending the teachers for their support for the government, urged them to be more dedicated to their duties.
He said: “We are to make a difference and make Ekiti proud and reposition education in our state. It takes a man of vision to understand how to reposition a failing system. I will use you and encourage you to reposition education in Ekiti State.
“This is the second meeting we are having and it will be regular. We will organise seminars instead of false examinations to terminate your appointments.
“We must encourage you not to force you to know why it should be like that. It is not that we must necessarily put a professor to head a ministry.
“A professor may not have the native intelligence to lead people.”
The governor urged the teachers to also come out in large number on Monday when they hold their day, saying the gifts promised them were already on ground.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Kayode Akosile, said teachers in the state were proud of the governor.
Akosile was quoted in the statement by Adelusi to have said: “Am proud to associate with you. You are not just another governor, you sympathise but also empathise with us. Two days ago we had a regional meeting of NUT in the South-West and Edo/Delta, our colleagues were envious of us when they heard all that you are doing for us.
“I have every confidence in you that as teachers in Ekiti, we will not suffer with you as our governor.”
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