EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has distanced himself from the allegation that some state governors were planning to divert the bailout funds being given to some states to offset arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions.

The governor said as a lover of workers and firm believer in the Biblical injunction that a labourer is worthy of his wages, he would never contemplate punishing workers.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said the funds would be judiciously used for the purposes intended.

The governor, according to the statement, spoke at a lecture organised as part of activities marking this year’s Civil Service Week.

Fayose, who explained to workers that the government had met all requirements for the fund, stated that he was yet to receive the fund, adding that the workers would be paid immediately the funds hit the government account.

He added that he would not purse developmental projects at the detriment of the growth of workers’ “stomach infrastructure “.

“At the last meeting I held with all of you in this hall, you asked me to go ahead and get the bailout fund. I’ve gone ahead, I’ve signed. I am waiting for the money and as soon as the money comes, I will pay. I am not going to be among the governors that will divert the bailout fund. I want the stomach infrastructure inside you to grow,” Fayose said.

The governor said the various borrowings obtained by the previous administrations and the bailout fund would have impact on the income of the state when the deductions are made.

He, however, said that regardless of the impact that the borrowings would have on the state income, he would not mind making sacrifices that would ensure the comfort of the state workforce.

He reminded the workers that in spite of the lean purse of the state, he had been paying workers’ salaries regularly since he assumed office last October.