Ekiti elders urge Fayose to prioritise workers’ salaries

The Ekiti council of elders has advised Governor Ayo Fayose to prioritise payment of workers’ salaries and reduce attention on execution of capital project.

The elders also endorsed the governor’s moves to apply for the fresh bailout to be rolled out by the Federal Government to assist states having difficulties in paying their workers’ salaries.

Speaking at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, chairman of the council, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, expressed sadness on the worsening condition of the striking workers who have not been paid for the past five months.

While emphasising the importance of regular payment of workers’ benefits, Oluwasanmi also called on the political leaders in the state to reduce waste and plough proceeds to the payment of the workers who are the engine room of the civil service.

Oluwasanmi said:“Anyone who really moves and lives with the people knows that our people are suffering; the market is at a standstill, no trade is going on, people are very hungry and a lot of anti-social activities have surfaced.

“This lack of capacity to pay salaries is sad and that we have reached this deplorable situation is also tragic. It needs not to be so if we are all ready to make sacrifices necessary for the survival of our country.

“Let the sacrifice go round; our governor’s-like others-can reduce to the barest minimum, their security allowances which in many cases secure nothing. There are areas where the state, especially the leadership can shed lot of monetary entitlements.’’