I have not committed Ekiti to debt, Fayose

…says state got N4.7bn refund
From Jimoh Joseph, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said his administration has not committed the state into any debt, saying the huge debt burden left by the previous administration is too much for the state to cope with.
This is just as he disclosed that the state got the sum of N4.7 billion from the latest tranche of the Paris Club Refund money.
He said this in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during an interface with civil servants in the state.
Fayose noted that with a debt burden that would be repaid for the next 20 years left by the Kayode Fayemi administration, it would amount to punishing the state and her people if more debts were incurred.
“The previous administration left the state reeling in a debt burden that we will repay for the next 20 years and we cannot further inflict more burden on the hapless people of the state. We have been prudent in the management of our scarce resources and the opposition All Progressives Congress peddling unfounded rumours that we have borrowed N56 billion are only saying balderdash.
“Their party is in control at the federal level and they have access to the Ministry of Finance, Accountant General of the Federation, the Debt Management Office among others, let them make whatever they have public. Nigerians are no fools,” he stated.
On the money received from the Paris Club Refund, Fayose said the N4.7 billion was for the state and 16 local governments in Ekiti.
He added that labour leaders would meet with government officials to determine how it would be spent.
On the controversy trailing the withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Oil Account, Fayose said he would challenge the decision in court.
He noted that any tier of government opposing the action by the Federal Government should be given its money and spend it the way it likes.
Responding on behalf of the workers, the Head of Device, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, said the governor had given priority to the welfare of workers in spite of the economic challenges facing the state.