Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

Fayose Urges Workers to Call Off Strike In a no holds barred message detailing for the umpteenth time the financial status of Ekiti State, the State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on Friday spoke extensively on why labour leaders should reconsider their stand to remain on strike as well as how the APC has lost moral grounds to comment on the finances of the state. Excerpts: Again my good people of Ekiti, I just want to appreciate you, I want to thank you for your patience, endurance so far in the face of this strike and our financial challenges. It is rather unfortunate that we are in this kind of situation, I want you to remember that I have always made you proud, I have always paid wages, salaries on the 22nd /23rd of every month. I have always done that which you can always remember, the effort put in place by my administration during the first tenure. You will recall that I said severally and nobody has controverted it that I left the sum of #10.4 billion when I was leaving in 2006. I came back now to meet debts in bonds and the commercial loans. You will remember that we are paying #600 million every month as a result of that bond. Let nobody deceive you that the bond was part of the bailout, that is far from the truth. The federal government has no powers over the bonds, the bonds are subscriptions of various interest groups and they must be sustained and payment must be monthly as agreed. I want to say very expressly if that #600 million is not being deducted from source it would have been adding value to the state today. Beyond that, they took a #31billion commercial loan, the federal government restructured that loan by paying the banks back and extending the tenure of the commercial loan instead of us paying #875 million every month, we now pay about #300 million every month and that will remain like that till year 2036. While the bond where we pay #600 million per month will remain like that till 2022. All these debts were incurred by the Apc government under governor Kayode Fayemi of the last administration. That was why I said it is morally wrong for a leader to put his people in perpetual slavery even after your tenure. All governors, all leaders must borrow money payable within their tenure otherwise how do you imagine a situation where somebody served a state for four years and his people will be paying back the debts incurred by his administration for 20 years after. If we add the #600 million naira from the bond and the #300 million deducted monthly for the commercial loan, that is #900 million naira incurred by the past administration and it will remain binding on Ekiti for the next 20 years. They have no moral standing, they have no moral ground to come out and talk, they have left us in perpetual pains, even governments after me will face the same problem and that was what I said when I took over the reins of government. I want to equally say that the bond, the bailout for paying salaries I got #9.6 billion from the federal government, the balance for the local government I have not gotten till today. The 9.6 billion was used to pay the wages of civil servants and #900 million for the wages of local government workers. I want to say it expressly, with that #9.6 billion we are paying close to #100million every month and that too was restructured for another 20 years, when you add that to the #900 million, that is another #1 billion. Beyond that, they gave us #10 billion for capital project against the excess crude account and they asked the banks to borrow us and they asked us to tie those projects to the #10b. I was able to tie the Fly over and the Oja Oba market to it and the other small projects am doing and these were entrenched in the budget. The house of assembly resolution was part of what they demanded, the exco resolution and my signature. How do I now divert money in the budget for capital project for alternative uses, then you end up with EFCC. So this is to explain to people asking us to divert money from project for payment of salaries and I want to go further to say that every month they deduct about #45m for fertilizer, so every month they deduct close to #1.2 billion naira from source, even more sometimes. This last one, the basic allocation that came was #1.21b, and deducting #1.1b the state was left with #102m. When you add VAT #626million, exchange gains and bank charges, we are left with #751 million, it was later they said they should suspend #300 million and they suspended it in d month of May, so ordinarily our allocation that we got was #751 million officially and how can we get allocation #751m and we are paying wages of 2.5/2.6b, how do we reconcile all these. When people come they say Fayose, the number of political appointees of Fayose, reducing ministries, there should be enough money, have you forgotten that what we are getting is #750m? The last allocation Dr. Kayode Fayemi got when he was leaving here was #3.9 billion, today we are getting #751million. That is why the labour leaders must come to reason, we must face the reality. I am not one governor that will come and lie to you, as it is the state is in financial mess. We pay institutions (University, College of Education , Hospitals, Judiciary, College of health Technology, we pay them almost #730 million every month). The core civil service goes to about #1.4b/#1.5b aside other responsibilities of government and you are getting #751 million. When you join three 751, three allocations, you hardly get to the wage bill. Don't forget you still have to provide chemicals for water, we have to provide diesel at Ero, we have to provide diesel at Ado waterworks and provide chemicals to water, we owe responsibilities to the communities, the security issues are there. I want to tell you very expressly it is not easy for this government financially and I have always said this, I did not hide it from you. I went round the local government with the labour leaders in July and we all agreed that we should use two allocations to pay one salary. If you are using two months to pay one starting from September/October, we used September/October to pay September, we used November/December to pay October, we used January/February to pay November, we used March/April to pay December. The issue now is that as we were going on that journey, when we got to February the allocation dipped further, it was now ending in using three months allocation to pay one month salary, that made it impossible for us to pay certain levels of deductions in December. The question to ask the labour leaders is why did you wait till now to talk about this issues if you were not part of it. We need certain level of integrity to show that we are leaders of the people than to back out when we actually know we are part of it. What are the issues? What are the problems in Ekiti? They are two. The first problem is the dwindling economy, the money coming from Abuja is no longer coming, Ekiti earns about the least in Nigeria and secondly the debt profile of Ekiti as a result of mal-administration by the last administration where almost #1.2 billion is deducted from source. If that #1.2 billion is not deducted and we add it to what we are getting today, life would have been a lot easier for our people. I have said it expressly, it will take a very wicked leader to have money and have his people to suffer. It is not my joy that you should suffer as a people, it is not in my prayers. If I could be paying salaries on the 22nd/23rd of every month during my first tenure, what should stop me from doing it now? It was because of the little I was able to do then that made you bring me back to come and serve you again. Within ambit of resources I am trying and I will continue trying but as I speak to you I don't have money, I love you, I appreciate you but I don't have it. Parents are generally emotional, passionate about their children particularly their female wards but sometimes you are helpless as a father. Your daughter will be at home, she cannot go to school but you are helpless and I still want you to continue praying for Nigeria because in the next three months it may get tougher. It is not going to be in my interest for you to ask me for fish and I will give you stone, what I don't have, I can't give. I plead with you to see reasons and come back. If this strike is not political, Oyo state is owing, Osun is even owing owing owing, States even taking derivation, oil derivation, they are complaining and they are challenged financially. It's not about the governor, its about all of us, it is a selective solution we must look for. I am prepared to serve you, I am prepared to give my best, let us not be beclouded by our pains not to see the actual facts surrounding this State. Don't let anybody come-in in the name of APC to deceive you. They have plunged this state into trouble, why should they take money beyond their administration? They did not even stop at that, they committed Ekiti by #600 million till year 2022 and committed Ekiti with commercial loans till year 2036. I hate talking about them but if there is a need and it becomes necessary to explain like this, I have to explain. This are not problems from me at all or my government, we mean well and we'll continue to give our best. At this juncture I want to plead with you again, please come back to work. The internally generated revenue of Ekiti is collected from various areas by 13 banks and on the 1st and 2nd of every new month, they sweep it into one bank and this is done electronically. The governor cannot say help me remove this, help me remove that. No responsible governor or government will say bank, help me manipulate, because of how much? The size of the state determines your IGR, can you take water out of a dry toilet roll? Can you push the people beyond what they can do? I don't want to be here fooling Ekiti people, telling them the IGR is 600 million/700 million for reasons of arrogance and pride. No! This things are done electronically, there is freedom of information, you can google it. You can go to accountant-general's office, if she does not avail you with the documents you want please call on me, let me know. I will get her to give you those documents, she is a civil servant, I don't want anybody to deceive you. You will recall that even the bailout was monies owed by the last administration, the money was used to pay them and ICPC, EFCC and other agencies that monitored the bailout gave credit to Ekiti for doing that. I never diverted your money, what will I do with it? I want a name, I don't want money, money is momentary, money has got wings, it can fly. For the bailout, Ekiti will be paying back for 20 years, I asked the workers before I got it for you because if I did not take it you will say it's because of politics but we are paying back, it is part of the burden. The bond is a burden, the commercial loan owed by the last administration is still part of the burden of Ekiti that we are paying back. So, I want to say again that I love you, it is not my joy, it is not my pleasure that you should continue on strike. Some people said Fayose said he is on strike, Yes, I said so jocularly and you know it because you made me a Comrade and it is in the character of Comrades to strike and jokingly I said to you to identify with you that I am equally on strike. Don't make a political statement out if it, what is important is the issue, the problem and we must deal with it, it is a different ball game if I have the money and I am not giving you. I plead with you to come back, I am still the same man you know, I will never sit on this seat and make you suffer. Not in my character, may God bless you.

Labour Strike: Fayose Writes NLC President, Blames National Economic Crisis For Non-Payment of Workers Salary Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has replied the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, attributing the State’s inability to pay workers salary regularly to the current downturn in the nation’s economy and the heavy loan burden left by his predecessor. The governor, in his response to the NLC President’s letter on the ongoing workers strike in the State, called on the NLC to join the advocacy for fiscal restructuring in Nigeria with a view to reviewing the federation allocation formular in favour of States, towards a lasting solution to the palpable indigent status of most States. The letter read; “I write to acknowledge your correspondence on the current strike action by workers in Ekiti State and I thank you for the expression of concern for the welfare of workers and suggestions on boosting internally generated revenue. “I want to state clearly that the issues listed in the statement represent the claims of the leadership of Labour in Ekiti State upon which their rather hasty resort to industrial action was premised.” Government does not agree with most of the issues, as stated by labour, and had since commenced dialogue with them. The discussions are ongoing and I hope that ressolution(s) will be achieved soon. “Let me put on record, the demonstrable commitment of my Government to governance principles of accountability, transparency and commitment to the welfare of workers.” It is an open secret that I paid workers on or before the 22nd of each month during my first tenure. “It is also known that the current economic downturn is a national issue and consequently the inability of most State Governments to meet wage obligations as at when due.” Our case is further made more precarious in Ekiti State by the heavy burden of debt left by the immediate past APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi, on which over N1bn is being deducted from the State allocation monthly. “Ekiti State economy is not immuned from the national crunch which is the bottomline for the arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions in 28 of the 36 States in Nigeria.” Based on this, and in addition to your suggestions on boosting internal revenue in States, your congress need to join the advocacy for fiscal restructuring in Nigeria i.e the review of the federation allocation formular in favour of States, towards a lasting solution to the palpable indigent status of most States. “Please be assured that, it is the policy of my government to involve labour leaders and other critical holders in governance and particularly on decisions on financial matters.” We remain committed to the principles of accountability and transparency which the leadership of labour in Ekiti State actually need to embrace. They also need to come to terms with the realities of the prevailing economic situation in our country at the moment. “Once again, I thank you for your interest in the welfare of workers in Ekiti State and I assure you that government will sustain the ongoing dialogue with the leadership of labour towards an expeditious ending of the current industrial action.”

Fayose Declares Solidarity Strike With Workers Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has embarked on an indefinite strike in solidarity with public workers in the state who are on strike over unpaid five months salaries. The governor made the declaration in Ado Ekiti in a broadcast on the state owned television in Ekiti State. In the broadcast, the governor disclosed that he had paid the January salary of local government workers,primary school teachers and subventions to tertiary institutions in the state. Public workers had on May 26 began an industrial action to press home for the payment of their salaries. Labour unions also shunned a meeting called by the state government, citing insecurity of their lives and properties owing to an anti-workers protest by drivers unions in the state. They were also irked by Fayose’s statement that he won’t sell his family to pay workers. The governor in the broadcast said he had been truthful in what he declared as the internally generated revenue and the N2.6b workers’ wage bill. Fayose said, “I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with you. I share your pains, but it was rather unfortunate that a man can’t give what he doesn’t have. “I have told you the true position of the finances of the state, of which you had played critical roles in allocation of federal allocations to relevant sectors which shows how well I had carried you along since the dwindling revenue to the state commenced. “During my first term, I mean, 2003 to 2006, I used to pay salary of workers by 21st of every month. But the present situation is very unfortunate and we have to learn how to live with it until the country wriggle out of it and things will change for better. “I want to say that I will be expecting you back to your offices when you are ready to return to work. I shall be expecting you, because presently I am handicapped and there is nothing I can do. “But before then, I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with your course. But I appeal that you put the interest of the state above everything, because the present position affects everybody,” Fayose said.

Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

Stomach Infrastructure train of Ekiti State Government distributing Rice at Omisanjana street of Ado-Ekiti. The Governor was welcomed by the people of the street in their large numbers.

Ekiti Workers’ Strike: Trade Unions Appeal to Labour to Sheath Their Swords The striking workforce in Ekiti State has been urged to sheath their sword and show understanding with Governor Ayodele Fayose as their colleagues in other states of the federation have done. A group, under the aegis of concerned trade unions in Ekiti, which comprises the state’s chapters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Ajegboro Association; Cooperative Drivers Union; Okada Riders Association; NATA, and artisans among others, made the call on Monday, with a promise to stage a solidarity rally in support of the governor today. In a statement co-signed by the leaders of the unions, Clement Adekola, state chairman of NURTW; Mr Agbede Gbenga, RTEAN chairman; Mr. Tosin Atowoja, Ajegboro Association; Elder Johnson Abioye, Cooperative Drivers Union; Mr Niyi J.O., Okada Riders Chairman; Mr Alo Babatope, Chairman, NATA; Mr. J.O. Adu, chairman, Artisans, the unions said: “We appeal to the striking labour, Ekiti State, to immediately suspend the strike and we want them to see reasons with the government." “There is a difference between what is at hand and what you don’t have. The governor has been transparent with the labour by taking them along with details of the federal allocations coming into the state." “It is obvious that Ekiti, like other 28 states in Nigeria challenged by payment of salaries, does not have the money to meet the current demands of Ekiti labour.” Citing another example of Benue State labour unions, who in spite of being owed over 13 months salary, still maintained industrial harmony in the state, the concerned Ekiti unions further urged the striking workers to emulate the understanding gesture of their colleagues, saying: “Without doubt, they (Ekiti labour) have a right to their wages, but what you don’t have, you can’t give. In the South-West for instance, there are states owing more than Ekiti as a result of their lean purse and the labour in those states show understanding and cooperation with their government, why is Ekiti an exception? Do we assume this has a political undertone? “Our wives and children are members of Ekiti labour and we will continue to make them understand that strike is not an option, especially when we are aware of a state like Benue owing more than 13 months’ salary and they still have industrial harmony in that state.” They drew the attention of the striking workers to what had transpired on the national scene when the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) showed understanding with the Federal Government by suspending the strike against increment in fuel pump price.” The national body of the Nigeria Labour Congrees (NLC) was cowed when the pump price of fuel was increased and they did not opt for an indefinite industrial strike. One would begin to wonder if there is more to it. This rally is to demonstrate our support and solidarity for the governor and this we will continue to do as the need arises. On no account will the drivers, okada riders and others join with any group of people who want to make the state ungovernable, they said.

Monthly Edition Of Meet Your Governor #FayoseSpeaks The labour leaders are the ones allocating funds here in Ekiti, not me. I don't attend the monthly meeting of Cash Allocation Committee. #FayoseSpeaks Payment of December 2015 salary without deductions was an agreement between the government and the labour leaders. They agreed that only the basic salary be paid. #FayoseSpeaks January and May 2015 compared with January and May 2016, N6bn was the shortfall of the allocation received by Ekiti. #FayoseSpeaks Today, Ekiti State Universal Education Board cannot access intervention fund from UBEC because of the fraud committed by the past government. #FayoseSpeaks I love the workers and I am ready to do everything for you but I can only spend money that is available. #FayoseSpeaks On capital projects, the N10bn is like a bond from the FG that must be tied to capital projects. N86m is to be repaid monthly, the money is in the bank and the bank is the one disbursing the money to the contractors. #FayoseSpeaks The money is not part of the allocation to the State. It is tied to capital projects and it cannot be used for any other purpose, the money is even in the bank. #FayoseSpeaks The N752m we received from Abuja this month will be used to pay those workers that are not on strike. #Ekiti IGR Sep 2015 - N267m Oct 2015 - N252m Nov 2015 - N195m Dec 2015 - N181m Jan 2016 - N389m Feb 2016 - N381m March 2016 - N302m April 2016 - N268m #FayoseSpeaks #FayoseSpeaks Banks doing business in Ekiti should at least be helpful to the state. #FayoseSpeaks Part of the duties of these banks is to employ Ekiti people in to their banks. #FayoseSpeaks To my labour leaders, let us close ranks and come together, the labour leaders I thank you for your patience. #FayoseSpeaks Accountant General, pls I beg you, whatever documents the labour leaders want to see, give them. #FayoseSpeaks Closing remarks: the Labour people are my people, we have to reason together, if we fight, we'll still come back to round table, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, let's come back to discussion. They should not forget that I am not a man like that, am not miserly and they know it. #FayoseSpeaks Let us close ranks and come together, the labour leaders I thank you for your patience. #DetutyGovReports Deputy governor on Audit report: Staff audit report almost ready, what we came across in the course of the audit, a level 4 officer earning the salary of level 16, we have discovered over 300 people who are ghost workers, Labour is well represented in the staff audit report committee too, Labour said the wage bill should ve come down from 2.6billion forgetting that those who retires too becomes pensioners immediately.

Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

I Can’t Stop Workers From Going on Strike, This are Perilous Times -Fayose Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose yesterday in an interview session with press men spoke on salient issues affecting the state, top of which is the inability of the government to meet its obligation in the area of salary payment. His reaction to the possibility of Ekiti workers going on strike any moment from now: I want to make some clarification particularly on issues that affects the welfare of our workers. I want to say very expressly that workers are the engine room of government and they deserve all the encouragement but currently we are in crisis financially, the average wage bill in terms of payment of workers is between 2.5 to 2.6billion which includes parastatals, university, college of education and all that. And since I became governor I have always put this before the leadership of labour, each time they give us a figure from Abuja, I always give the paper to them for them to share and bring it for signature. Obviously at some point we all realized that there was nothing to share or probably for what we earn when you are to pay 2.5 or 2.6 billion as wage bill and you now get 1billion, you get 800million, you get 1.2billion, there is nothing to share. So rotating an alternating payment in terms of paying the university, the college of education, higher institution and so on, we pay them this month and pay the major work force next month. That has been the practice and we work with a technical committee of labour and government, we meet monthly to disburse. I want to tell u very expressly that it has not been easy. As it is, last month I got about 850million, the month before which was the month of March I got 1.1billion, February I got about 1.2billion and in December I got about 1.3billion, it has not been easy and I want to say very expressly that I am owing four months salary and with the month of May it will be five months. This is not about Ekiti alone, all states reasonably are affected by this development irrespective of which governor, which party controls that state. So as it is, I am doing my best within the ambits of availability. You will recall that I took over a debt profile of commercial loan of over 31billion where deductions are made from source and apart from the commercial loan we have the bond by the last administration as a result, it is difficult for me to sustain the salaries. Ekiti has the least in Nigeria in terms of IGR(internally generated revenue) and most of the times if you don’t pay, if you pay the basic it means you don’t expect tax next month, that has been the style, that has been the situation. Right now I am helpless and that is the fact. Yesterday, the 25th of this month, the commissioner for finance called me that we got 751million which is one third or one quarter of the wage bill. So I need to set this record straight, I have been guided and being careful and that is why most of the time when workers doesn’t come to work, I don’t have the morals to go and stop them from coming late or not coming to work because when you don’t pay wages you are handicapped to enforce discipline in the people. As it is, I am doing my best on the needful but it is difficult for me to sell myself or my wife or sell my property, it is a trying time for our state and for Nigeria, I can only deploy what I get from Abuja within available resources, we are trying our best to improve on the internally generated revenue. You will discover that it is very difficult to squeeze water from a dry tissue paper. You can’t get money when people don’t get wages, when the money doesn’t circulate, when business are not running, taking IGR from them will be a bit difficult. As it is, this is the position, I just want the public, the workers to understand that it’s in my priority to make them very comfortable, apart from wages, it is the responsibility of government to provide electricity,it is the responsibility of government to provide security, to provide for the less privileged, water among others. This has been very difficult, even in government house most of the times we don’t have diesel to power generators, so we have to move to the office during office hours and when we move home, we use generator for the government house. It’s been very tough and that’s the position but I can’t stop workers from going on strike, if you want to go on strike I can’t stop you, I can only give explanation which I have given and the best I could do is what I can do. So I sympathise with them but I am helpless, if you want to go on strike, we will be waiting when they will come back. On his message for the Labour leaders who were threatening to strike: It is not about threatening, what you have is what you can give, we do this meeting together Technical Committee every month, they have facts more than myself but I don’t want to join issues, I appreciate their patience, I appreciate their situation, the same situation they are in is the same situation I am in. So I want to say very clearly, even if you hate the labor force, will you hate the political leaders and political class, No! His plea to them: The plea is to all see reasons with the present situation, it is a situation beyond anybody and everybody. If you go to Osun State, go to Ogun, go to Oyo, most states don’t even have commissioners, they don’t have means, so I won’t blame anybody, the financial situation I have said it long ago that this time shall come, this are very perilous times, difficult times, I share the pains of the common people in our society, it is not right time to be governor I must confess to you. Capital projects despite paucity of funds: Some ask me, but you are doing some capital project like the fly over, and the new market, yes! I said it, I made it public a year ago that the federal government arranged a loan for each state for 10billion which must be attached to capital project in each state. I made it public in one of ‘The Governor Speaks’, and I have attached the flyover, the new market and one other project, I have attached that money to them. The money goes to them from source, so this is to clarify the misrepresentation regarding the projects, it is not as if we have the money in our coffers, the money is with the banks and they pay contractors directly. In fact, there are a lot of agreements signed by contractors that won the projects before they can get the money and it is being regulated by the bank with our approval.

PRESS RELEASE THE APPLICATION FORM FOR INTENDING PILGRIMS FOR THE YEAR 2016 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM WELFARE BOARD, OLD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ADO EKITI. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD STATED THAT THE COST OF THE FORM IS FIVE THOUSAND NAIRA ONLY (N5,000.00), ADDING THAT THE FEE SHOULD BE PAID INTO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AT EITHER FIRST BANK OR SKYE BANK AT THE PREMISES OF THE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ADO EKITI. THE STATEMENT STATED THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL, ORGANISATION OR CORPORATE BODIES THAT NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2016 PILGRAGE SHOULD CALL THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBERS: 07033168592 OR 08035868525. DAYO ADENIYI, PRESS OFFICER, C.P.W.B.

Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has banned grazing and rearing of cattle in the state, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranch. The governor, who took such a drastic action, also said a bill to make the movement of cattle from one location to another criminal in the state would soon be sent to the State House of Assembly. Governor Fayose, who made this known when he visited Oke-Ako in Ikole local government area of the State that was invaded last Friday by Fulani herdsmen that killed two residents of the town and injured others, warned that government would henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the State apart from ranch created for them by their owners. He described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.” The governor said, “We will not leave our lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed, we will have no option than to defend ourselves by whatever means. “I have come here to commiserate with the people of Oke-Ako over the murder of two of our people by these evil Fulani herdsmen. “I am also here to assure that this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise. “I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in cattle farming should henceforth do so in their own cattle ranch. “No more movement of cattle from one location to another in the State and any cattle seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from the ranch created for them by their owners will be confiscated by the government and their owners will be prosecuted. “A bill to this effect will be sent to House of Assembly for passage into law to criminalise cattle owners whose cattle are found moving from one location to the other in the State. We in Ekiti will no longer harbor herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and raping our women. It is our duty to protect our people and we are going to do that without fear or favor. The governor said the activities of Fulani herdsmen was inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country saying, “one wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.” Governor Fayose who promised to complement the efforts of the local hunters provided a Pick Up Van, raised the sum of #2.5m for them and advice the hunters to work hand in hand with the security personnel for the safety of the community. He also raised the sum of #2.5m for the affected families. "I want to say it very clearly, everything you want me to do towards a safe environment, I will do. Because the moment you are not secured then I had better resigned as a governor. "If I cannot provide adequate security for you, it is better for me to leave this office. The only reason you voted for me is because you know I am competent to do the needful in circumstances like this. Nobody will take Ekiti away from us. The governor visited the hospital where some of the injured were receiving treatment and in the course of interacting with the Doctor realize the importance of relocating them to Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti where adequate treatment can be delivered on them and also promised to refer them to OAU Teaching hospital if need be.

Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

Throw in the towel, Fayose tells CMD Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday passed a vote of no confidence on Dr. Ayodele Majekodunmi as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI). Mr. Fayose who was accompanied to the venue of the protest by not less than fifteen traditional rulers made this known while addressing workers of FETHI in their large numbers as well as residents of Ido Ekiti, the host community who had gathered at the entrance of the institution to receive him. The governor during a meeting at the government house on Tuesday with some Ekiti stakeholders (Kabiyesis and some respected individuals), top echelon of FETHI management (including Dr. Ayodele Majekodunmi) and union leaders of the institution had promised to personally visit the hospital today with the aim of restoring normalcy going by his intervention in resolving the gridlock that has engulfed the hospital since the unfortunate accident that claimed the lives of three doctors of the institution along Kaduna-Sokoto road on 24th April, 2016. Though the governor was given a rousing welcome by the protesting crowd when he arrived Ido, he was however prevented from gaining entrance into the hospital with the union leaders (with the support of the crowd) insisting that they would rather have him address them at the gate. With all entreaties falling on deaf ears, the governor after a while obliged. Governor Fayose who thanked the crowd for giving him audience in his address said "I believe very strongly that with my interaction with Dr. Ayodele Majekodunmi, he has not done well, he has not done well at all... Since we are on the same page (the governor and the protesters), I want us to manage this problem in the overall interest of Ekiti, there is no government or individual who has seen the state of things in this hospital that will give kudos to Dr. Ayodele. "Yesterday, i was with your people at Ado Ekiti, i told them my mind and I told Dr. Ayodele that he didn't do well, and i told him if it were in advanced countries, the right thing would have been for him to resign. You cannot be bigger than the institution, you can't be bigger than the community, whether you are a president, or a governor, not to talk of ordinary chief medical director of a teaching hospital. Governor Fayose said he cannot identify with Dr. Ayodele and equally told the protesters that they have a good case, "one man cannot overcome all of you, you have a good case but do not allow hoodlums hijack this good case from you, I want to say it again, the beauty of this agitation is for you not to allow hoodlums hijack it". He advised them to make a credible representation, and promise to write his own report and send it to Abuja, he equally promised to indicate yesterday's meeting and the need for the federal government by the instrument of the federal ministry of health to make a change. "The loss of the doctors is still very fresh in our minds, and I told him yesterday, by your non attendance of their burials and intermediate intervention in that matter, you are going to be guilty as charged. "If Dr. Ayodele is a man capable of thinking deep, he should throw in the towel because he can no longer work in isolation, i am not happy with the situation here, the federal government by the instrumentality of the ministry of health should immediately withdraw the appointment of Dr. Majekodunmi. "By your actions, you have demonstrated that the people's power is greater than those of us in power, you have demonstrated that the CMD of this institution can no longer enjoy your confidence, by your action, you have only proved to us that the only alternative is for the ministry of health to take immediate action. The governor thereafter directed the police and other security agencies to work hand in hand with the union in ensuring that hoodlums are not allowed to hijack the situation.

Ekiti State Government's cover photo

Photos from Ekiti State Government's post

Dotors' Death: Fayose Settles Crisis in FETHI Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday resolved the crisis rocking the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti over the death of some doctors from the hospital few weeks ago. At a meeting of stakeholders consisting of all medical and non-medical workers, traditional rulers from across the state and the Chief Medical Director, Dr Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, the governor pleaded with parties to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign. In a statement by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said it was unfortunate that since the death of some medical doctors in a car crash few weeks ago while going for a meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto State, peace had eluded the hospital. Listing the grievances of the workers, their spokesman, Mr Efe Asagba, said the workers, both senior and junior staff were angered by the insensitivity of Ayodele concerning some issues, chief among which was the manner he handled the death of some doctors few weeks ago. Since the death of three medical doctors who were on their way to attend the NMA congress, our Chief Medical Director has not called the families of the deceased, he was not around when the victims were buried and has not been sympathetic to our plight. You can imagine that he was not around when the corpses were brought from Kaduna to Ekiti and did not send representatives," he said. Ayodele, while explaining himself, said he was already in Sokoto for the NMA meeting when he heard about the accident and that he took permission from the Minister of Health to come down to Ekiti State. He added that he however got security reports that some people were after his life and that it was based on that he did not attend the ceremonies. Governor Fayose, in his remarks, faulted Ayodele for not attending the ceremonies in spite of whatever security reports he was given. He pleaded with the workers to forgive whatever mistakes they felt the CMD had made. He said the accident that claimed the lives of the medical doctors was unfortunate. He urged the workers and their boss to mend fence and allow peace to reign. The governor appealed to Ayodele to also make concession to the workers and deal with them with humility. Traditional rulers in attendance such as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111, the Olujudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Adebayo among others, appealed to the workers and the CMD to allow peace to reign in the hospital.