The Governor of Ekiti state, has approved the immediate promotion of over 37,000 workers in the state. This directive came during the May Day celebration in the state, as the Governor’s gesture was to boost the morale of workers in the state.
Mr Ayo Fayose who has been vocal and number critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration, also took a swipe at some All Progressives Congress State governors, saying rather than promote workers they are sacking workers. He asked the workers to step on government toes and seek answers to how the money being generated from excess crude oil being spent.
The Governor who lauded himself as to the first ever governor to be elected twice in Ekiti state, as it was the labour force of Ekiti state that gave him his victories at the poll.
He said:
I appreciate the support that I have enjoyed from workers, even when the battle was fierce.
I will never forget their role in bringing me back to office, particularly the teachers. My legacy was already rubbished when I left office but God and the workers made me come back.
The workers made me a man of history in Ekiti state. I had no trade name, a family name that is recognised, but with their support, I was able to defeat two incumbents and become the first Ekiti person to be elected governor twice.
Yesterday, during the Workers Day celebration, I approved the promotion of 37,152 govt workers. The promoted workers will be paid all their entitlements. We are owing salaries no doubt, but we have been paying and hopefully, we will clear the arrears.
To me, it is still better to owe salaries and be making efforts to pay as we have been doung than to sack workers as being witnessed in some APC States.
I call on labour leaders to put the FG on its toes, by asking questions on how funds belonging to the country are being spent. Without doing that, states may continue to find it difficult to meet their expectations.
For instance, this year’s benchmark for FG budget is $42 but oil now goes for over $70 per barrel and instead of paying all the revenues to the Federation Account, FG still operates an Excess Crude Account contrary to the judgment of the Supreme Court.
Since the Ekiti state election is fast approaching, this could be a perfect political strategy to buy the civil servant at your side…and that has seem to be working for him since taking over from office.