How we reduced cost of governance in Ekiti —Govt

The Ekiti State government said on Tuesday that it had reduced cost of governance in the face of the current economic downturn in the country, saying it was supporting its economy with internally-generated revenue (IGR).

The secretary to the state government (SSG), Dr. Modupe Alade, who addressed newsmen to mark the commencement of the third anniversary of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s government, on Tuesday, said the government had cause to celebrate when the achievements of Governor Fayose were considered.

Mrs. Alade said the state government reduced running grants to ministries, departments and agencies to 40 per cent, and explained that money saved by so doing “is what we use to manage Ekiti.”

The SSG said the state government was also generating about N300million a month as IGR, pointing out that this was added to whatever the government got from the federal government to ensure the running of the government.

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She regretted that the government decided to organize a low-key celebration in view of the arrest of the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Toyin Ojo and Accountant General, Mrs Yemisi Owolabi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over bailout funds to Ekiti.

On the feat achieved by the state in the area of education, Alade said: “The achievement was consequent upon the 2015 education summit held by stakeholders. In WASC performance, Fayose brought Ekiti from 25%  in 2014 to 74% in 2017 while in NECO, the state moved from 58% to 85%”

She added that the governor will inaugurate dualised road and lightning projects in Omuo, Ikere, Ilawe, Ijero, Emure, Ise, Ikole and Afao Ekiti to mark the third anniversary.

Alade disclosed that Governor Fayose will also inaugurate Ori Apata-Nata-Nova Road, Rural electrification of Irasa and Ilokun farmsteads, Ikun Bridge in Moba local government and Okemesi-Osun State border road.

On the scourge of monkeypox  virus that has elicited anxiety across the nation, Alade said: “we have two cases at Okemesi Ekiti. Tests are still being carried out and not until it is confirmed,  we can’t come out with any official statement,” she said.

Alade said during the years, Fayose’s administration had expended a sum of N1 billion on Small Scale Industries and women empowerment as a way of banishing poverty  out of the state.