L-R: Senator Anthony Adeniyi (Ekiti South); Hon. Robinson Ajiboye (Ido-Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje); Governor Kayode Fayemi; his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North); and Hon. Abiose Arowosoge (Ekiti South-West/Ikere/Ise-Orun), during the 2nd Executive/Legislature Parley, at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Thursday stated that the era when government would earmark funds for projects without implementing them had long gone in the state as Ekiti people are now more interested in quality project delivery than mere promises.
This, he said informed his administration’s insistence on speedy and excellent delivery of project and services.
The Governor made this disclosure at the opening of the second Executive – Parliamentary parley holing at Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti; saying that the people of the State are tired of being informed of what is being earmarked for certain projects but are interested in seeing the effect of the judicious use of such funds in terms of tangible development.
The programme, an annual event where government’s policies and strategies are evaluated, is being attended by all the members of the state House of Assembly, the state’s representatives in the National Assembly and members of the state executive council.
Dr. Faye mi, who said that the four-day retreat with the theme: “Collaboration: looking back, looking forward” was aimed at rejuvenating the delivery team and reflecting on how well the administration has been able to consistently pursued the goals of banishing poverty and make life abundant to the people without derailing, added that the retreat would enable the two arms of government cement their bond and know the “banana peels” in their relationship and correct same.
The Governor recalled that many of the projects implemented last year by the administration were products of the first parley held last year in Iloko-Ijesa. He added that the second parley would give them the opportunity to know what the administration had achieved, where the gaps are and the direction which the administration should head for.
Fayemi asserted that his administration has delivered 70 percent of its promises to Ekiti people within two and a half years and is reasonably confident that it would do more by the time his tenure lapses.
The Governor said: “This parley is expected to give us the sense of where we are and where we are headed. We want to know things we have done, where the gaps are and how to strengthen the bond between the executive and the legislature, and achieve the objective we have for our people in ensuring that we make poverty history and making life abundant”.
While explaining that the collaboration between the executive and the legislature has not caused any external penetration of the Assembly, Fayemi said the collaboration is not about partisan politics but about the people whom they were elected to represent as they would be the judge when another election comes.
“This is time to focus on our people but the time for politics will also come when we tell them what we have done for them and allow them judge us. We believe we have delivered 70% of our promises to Ekiti people within two and a half years and we are reasonably confident that we will do more than we promised them by the time we finish our term.
“Our people are only interested in eye-marking , enough of earmarking in Ekiti. Government come and go. What we used to hear in the past was that government had earmarked this and that for water, for Ikogosi, Education and so on. Not anymore! It is only what can be eye-marked that will determine how our people can judge us,” Fayemi explained.
In his keynote address, the first civilian Governor of the State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo commended the effort of the Dr. Fayemi-led administration; saying that since Ekiti State is a work in progress, the people should give him the support to continue the strides in order to complete the projects already started.
Adebayo who spoke on “Banana peels and Executive-Legislature relations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic”, gave an account of how his administration managed the State with a meagre monthly allocation of below N400,000,000.00 (Four Hundred Million Naira), yet embarked on many road construction projects, rural electrification and other community development projects as well as pay workers’ salaries.
The former Governor said it was noteworthy that his administration built the Ekiti House in Abuja and Lagos as well as the present Governor’s office which was originally designed to be a five-star hotel until it was converted by the successive administration and the projects executed by the Adebayo-led administration are still the existing major sources of income for the State.
On corruption, Adebayo lauded the present administration’s introduction of biometric payroll system, the e-payment system and the signing of the Freedom of Information bill into law; saying that these show the readiness of the administration to curb corruption and enthrone the principles of transparency.
He said people should not confuse the collaboration between the two arms of government as an act of sycophancy but a proper agreement that could benefit the masses; adding that the legislature should not been seen as hardworking when it is at logger-heads with the executive.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin said the parliament is an intermediary institution between the executive and the electorate and is the hope of the citizens against “unpopular government policies”.
Omirin stressed that for government machinery to continue to run smoothly, both arms of government must shun confrontation, needless friction and tension but allow for the spirit of sacrifice, compromise and synergy to rule the relationship.
Last modified: May 9, 2013