Although the
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose regularly bashes the Federal Government, the
financial solvency of the state has depended largely on the Buhari
presidency
which recently approved an N8.8b share of the Paris loan refund to the state.
Contrary to
claims by the governor, the Federal Government has indeed been supporting the
state government in meeting its financial obligations including paying its
workers.
The state
government has received financial support in different forms, from the Federal
Government, since the inception of the Buhari administration.
The findings
also indicated that the state government’s improved financial position was made
possible by recently received N8.8 billion from the Federal Government as part
of its share of the Paris loan refund.
This is in
addition to the budget support facility given by the Federal Government to some
states of the federation, which the state government has consistently been
receiving.
Findings
also reveal that the state spends an estimated N2.6 billion on salaries,
subvention, pension and gratuity monthly which would not have come from
internally generated revenues.
According to
a report published recently by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ekiti state
is one of the states with the lowest internally generated revenue, which was
put at N3.3 billion yearly.
From the
federation account, the state receives an average of about N1.6 billion
monthly.
Based on
available data, suffice it to say that the state would not have been able to
meet its obligation without other assistance which came mostly from the federal
government.
Data from
the Ministry of Finance indicate that the Paris Club Loan is merely a fraction
of the kind of support the state gets from the Federal Government.
Under the
fiscal sustainability plan, the state got N1.3 billion in the first three
months then N1.1 billion in subsequent months since it began in June, 2016.
A recent
comment published by Sahara Reporters confirms the fact that the state
government has largely been dependent on the Federal Government to meet most of
its financial obligations, contrary to claims by the governor.
According to
the comment, “Ekiti state was once a proud producer of Igbemo Rice.
Incidentally, Igbemo Ekiti is the next town to Fayose’s village, Afao Ekiti.
“So, he
should tell Nigerians why his government of stomach infrastructure has failed
to revitalize the Igbemo rice factory which was once a pride of the Ekiti
people.’’
The author
of the comment queried why governor Fayose had failed to utilize the state’s
comparative advantage in agriculture.
He posed
pertinent questions about the governor’s failure to partner with other states
to boost agricultural production in the state.
The author
asked: “Has the governor of Ebonyi state not increased rice production to the
extent that the state is selling rice to other states right now?’’
“Is the
lousy governor of Ekiti state not aware that the government of Governor Akin
Ambode of Lagos State decided to partner with Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state
for the production of rice?
“Is Mr.
Fayose not aware that the partnership has created opportunities for Lagosians
to buy a bag of rice in Lagos at N12, 000 while it is sold at N20,000 in
Fayose’s land of empty stomach infrastructure?’’
On their
part, workers in the state have at different forum in 2016 appealed to the
governor to use funds released by the Federal Government to clear their salary
arrears.
Souce: Vanguardngr
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