The Ekiti Council of Elders has advised Governor Ayo Fayose to apply for a fresh bailout by the Federal Government aimed at assisting states having difficulties in paying their workers’ salaries.
Addressing a briefing in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, chairman of the council, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, expressed sadness on the worsening condition of government workers who have not been paid for the past five months.
While emphasizing on the importance of regular payment of workers’ benefits, Oluwasanmi also called on the political leaders in the state to reduce waste and plough proceeds to the payment of the workers who are the engine room of the civil service.
Oluwasanmi said: “Anyone who really moves and lives with the people knows that our people are suffering; the market is at a standstill, no trade is going on, people are very hungry and a lot of antisocial activities have surfaced.
“This lack of capacity to pay salaries is sad and that we have reached this deplorable situation is also tragic. It need not to be so if we are all ready to make sacrifices necessary for the survival of our country.
“Let the sacrifice go round; our governor’s-like others-can reduce to the barest minimum, their security allowances which in many cases secure nothing. There are areas where the state, especially the leadership can shed lot of monetary entitlements.
“We are imploring the leadership of the state to key into the Federal Government’s bailout plan and in cooperation achieve solution to this financial issue. It is obvious that it cannot be solved by the state on its own.”
A member of the council, Chief Oladeji Fasuan, advised the state government to stop further expenditure on capital projects as payment of workers should be a top priority for now.
Fasuan said: “We don’t need capital project now, let us concentrate on payment of salaries and loans to give relief to own people who are suffering.”
The group also condemned the attacks on the people of the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen which resulted in killings in Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area few weeks ago.
The elders regretted that the activities of the herdsmen have resulted in rape, murder, devastation of farmlands and destruction of villages, urging the Federal Government to urgently do something to halt the trend and ease the pain of the people.
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