Ekiti State government has described as falsehood and dishonest, claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers that they have not been paid their entitlements.
The government said in a statement issued on Sunday by the State
Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo that the lawmakers duly
acknowledged receipt of cheques for their payments last week Wednesday
through his office.
The government was reacting to a statement issued by one Wole Olujobi,
who claimed to be the lawmakers’ spokesperson that Governor Ayodele
Fayose placed embargo on the lawmakers bank accounts and did not pay
them their entitlements.
The statement read; “We would have remained silent in deference to the
agreement reached at the last Monday meeting in Akure that all parties
should maintain silence on the outcome of the meeting, especially
because the lawmakers said they do not want their leaders to know the
outcome of the meeting.
However, since the lawmakers have chosen not to abide by this
agreement by first issuing press statement to deny and reveal what was
discussed in the meeting, and now going to the press to say that they
have not received any payment, the government does not have any other
option than to tell the public the truth and set the records straight.
“The government is by this press statement putting the records
straight since the money paid to the lawmakers belong to Ekiti people.
“The payment was made in cheques because the lawmakers pleaded that
their accounts should not be credited directly so as to avoid the
banks from making deductions for loans taken from the banks.
“Saying that they have not been paid is quite unfortunate and
unbecoming of honourable members of the State House of Assembly and
this is sad.
“We will want to keep our fingers crossed and we wish to caution the
lawmakers to adhere strictly to the spirit of the agreements.
“Governor Fayose’s good gesture, aimed at ensuring peace in the State
should not be abused.”
