L-R:Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; flanked by Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewal Omirin (Left); and Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Chief Dayo Fadipe, during the quarterly briefing with Local Government Chairmen, in Oye LGA... on Thursday.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has blamed local government’s inability to embark on many capital projects on inflated number of “ghost workers” on the payroll of the councils, even as he declared that the state government does not fiddle with funds meant for the councils.
The Governor said this at the maiden edition of the quarterly briefing by the caretaker chairmen of the 16 local government councils of the State; adding that rather than tampering with funds meant for the local governments, the state government has assisted the councils in carrying out most of the responsibilities meant for the lowest level of government.
Dr. Fayemi who said that the councils in the State are still owing the state government about One Billion Naira added that the on-going construction of 5 kilometre of roads in all the 16 local government areas of the State are jointly shouldered by the two tiers of government.
He explained that a review of the workforce in the local governments has shown that bulk of the money which could have been expended on capital projects are spent on payment of salary to unknown workers who are on the payroll system of the Councils.
The Governor added that government would soon begin a proper staff audit in the councils so as to fish out the ghost workers and help the local governments live up to their responsibilities to the grassroots; saying that it is worrisome that there are 152 personnel in the Works department of a particular local government but not all of them show up at work.
Fayemi who expressed dissatisfaction that the recurrent budget of all the local governments was higher than their capital budget as a result of the inflated personnel stressed that he owes Ekiti people the duty to spend their resources with prudence and will not do anything that would deprive the grassroots of the dividends of democracy.
He said though there is improvement in the Internally Generated Revenue of Local Governments, his administration is the first in the history of the State to adhere to the payment of 10 per cent of IGR as statutorily expected.
On the construction of 5km in all the council areas, the Governor expressed concern at the slow pace of work in 10 of the 16 councils areas; saying that only six of the councils have done appreciable work and are sure to meet the September target set for the completion of the roads.
Fayemi who warned that the 5km road projects in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area may be terminated if appreciable progress is not made on the roads within the next few weeks added that other local government should take the projects with all seriousness so that the masses can benefit more from the infrastructure largesse.
He however hinted that a Committee has been set up to verify the authenticity of the projects which the Council Bosses said they have done in their local government areas and to know if they are in line with the requests made by the people at the Town hall meetings held by the Caretaker Chairmen.
Last modified: July 19, 2012
