When Governor Kayode Fayemi took over the mantle of leadership on October 16, 2018 after his re-election, there was no gain-saying the fact that Ekiti was grossly challenged in so many ways. Fayemi came at a time when salaries were not paid as and when due and the state’s values had degraded scandalously, thereby creating a forlorn hope and the erroneous impression that it would take a magic for him to succeed.
As of the time he was sworn-in for his second tenure, the state was hugely indebted to the workers and pensioners to the tune of N57 billion. This was an accumulation of unpaid salary arrears, pension and gratuities. This staggering amount was a heavy burden on an economically-challenged state like Ekiti, with a paltry N3 billion monthly allocation from the federal government. The state’s internally-generated revenue ranks below N250 million monthly, making it one of the lowest in the country.
Without sounding patronizing, Fayemi seemed prepared for the task ahead. He was not oblivious that notorious fact that it would take thinking outside the box to make a significant value on the socio economic and political lives of heavily depraved citizens. Little wonder, he came with a mantra: “Reclaiming our land, restoring our values”. Two years down the line, the hitherto prostrate economy is gradually rising, while the social values are being restored due to pragmatic approach and prudent management of the state’s meagre resources. Within the last 24 months, the workers have had every cause to laugh as the state government has consistently paid their salaries without delay.
The era when two months’ allocations were being lumped to pay one month’s salary quickly disappeared with Fayemi’s emergence. Though, there were still arrears of salaries and pensions to pay, but as things stand, there is good prognosis that all will be defrayed before this tenure expires in October 2022.
What actually buoyed workers’ confidence has been the priority Governor Fayemi placed on their welfare and their salaries which they prompt receive despite COVID-19 pandemic. It is a known fact that many states in the country were toying with the idea of pay-cut, while many others have actually implemented pay cuts.
Today in Ekiti, it has been a litany of success stories in the way Governor Kayode Fayemi has been decentralizing infrastructural facilities of our dear state. Those in Ado-Ekiti metropolis and those in the hinterland are enjoying even distribution of the state’s commonwealth in terms of road construction, water supply, appointments, capturing in the social safety net schemes like: Social Security, N-Power, Covid-19 palliative, among others. The revamping of the Egbe Dam in Gbonyin Local Government Area and Ero Dam in Moba Local Government Area, and water reticulation in about nine local government areas are enough evidences that no area is neglected in the state. To corroborate this assertion, heavy construction works are currently ongoing at Ilupeju – Ire – Igbemo – Ijan axis of Ekiti State. The same goes for Agbado – Ode – Omuo corridor. Oja Oba and the Civic Centre in Ado-Ekiti, among others like the Knowledge Zone, four model schools and the airport project are all pointers to a bright future for the state.
Governor Fayemi has also succeeded in raising the bar of governance through public-private partnership, upon realizing that the state had no financial wherewithal to weather the economic storm. With the state’s business partnership with Promasidor Nigeria Limited, the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm has bounced back to life with dairy production. This was after the injection of about N2 billion to rejuvenate the milk production factory that would produce about 10,000 litres of milk daily. In the agriculture sector, a rice processing plant with a popular brand, is presently embarking on aggressive rice production at the state’s Agric Zone and these would automatically translate to economic gains in terms of food security, food affordability, industrial development and employment generation for jobless youths.
In a bid to preclude sacrificing good governance and welfarism on the altar of political patronage, the governor recently sprang a surprise through a major cabinet reshuffle. Under this context, some fresh blood in people with solid academic background was injected into six pivotal ministries that are strategic to the success of the five-point policy thrust of his administration. In the same breath some other commissioners were moved to other ministries where the governor thought their potential, professional acumen and skills would be more enhanced.
Many were also stunned how the governor had been swift and pragmatic in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when the people were expecting a gloomy economy, Fayemi was able to change the narrative via a vibrant committee he quickly established to mobilize funds to help the state. The committee, which comprises illustrious Ekiti citizens like Aare Afe Babalola (SAN); Sir Remi Omotoso, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and others raked in about N700 million for Ekiti State, apart from the wondrous material donation the state received on behalf of the citizens as palliative for the coronavirus. Whichever way one periscopes the Governor Fayemi’s mid-term tenure, it has been 24 months of hardwork, innovation and blessings to the people of Ekiti State. With the rising infrastructural profile of the state under Fayemi, the expectation that the governor would have at least two projects in each of the 140 towns in Ekiti seems attainable and the citizens expect his appointees to also rev up the pedal of delivery for this projection not to be a mirage.
Aluko, an Assistant Principal at Ikere High School, Ikere-Ekiti, can be reached through 08032712451 or 08066181583.
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