The Transition Committee set up by Ekiti State governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that the state’s debt profile has ballooned to N117 billion under the administration of outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose.
The panel said the latest debt figure which was sourced from the Debt Management Office (DMO) was outside salary, pension and gratuity arrears, compensation to majority of owners of houses demolished for Ado-Ekiti flyover and debt owed contractors, among others.
According to DMO, the total debt left by Fayemi in 2014 was N18 billion which was disputed by Fayose who claimed his predecessor left N85 billion debt.
The revelation came to light Friday evening when the committee chaired by a former federal lawmaker, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, submitted
its report to the governor elect at the Conference Hall of AB Hotel, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The ceremony was witnessed by the deputy governor-elect, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, wife of the governor-elect, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Assembly, party leaders and members.
Adetunmbi revealed that the outgoing Fayose-led administration did not set up a committee of its own to interact with it and did not release any document to facilitate its assignment.
He said: “The sub-committees of this Transition Committee met with 76 interest groups including labour unions, interest groups, civil society bodies, development partners who assisted with information of what is going on in the outgoing administration.
“The report being submitted today represents the voice of the people that voted you (Fayemi) in and it contains what they want in the short
term, medium term and in the long term.
“As at the last time the DMO released official debt figures, Ekiti is owing N117 billion.”
Responding, Fayemi said while he leaves the outgoing government to God, he is focused on making a difference in the life of the people of Ekiti State despite the challenges ahead.
He also urged the incoming House of Assembly to consider and enact a Transition Act that will stipulate the duties of an outgoing administration and an incoming administration to pave the way for seamless transfer of power.
Such law, according to him, is in operation in African countries like Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and other advanced democracies in other parts of the world.
Fayemi said: “The chairman (Adetunmbi) talks about liabilities, that is what government is all about, assets and liabilities, government is a continuum.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that there will be debts but we are focused on our agenda to make a difference in the lives of our people.
“So for us, we leave whatever that is done by the outgoing government to God and God will handle that in the best way possible.
“We want to focus on making the difference in the life of our people, so our people remain our priority.
“We hope some reason will prevail between now and inauguration day for the outgoing government to come up with the information this committee has been asking for since it was inaugurated.”
Fayemi disclosed that he spoke with some development partners and investors willing to work with his government during a recent trip to China who demanded the report of the committee.
While commending the Adetunmbi-led panel for a job well done, Fayemi promised to study the report and ensure a thorough implementation in the interest of Ekiti people.
He expressed delight that the committee recommended agriculture as the number one focus to turn around the fortunes of the state in revenue
generation and job creation initiatives.
The governor-elect who promised to hit the ground running immediately he is sworn into office on October 16 also charged aspirants to national and state legislatures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to familiarize themselves with the contents of the report.
Fayemi added that with the completion of the assignment of the Transition Committee, the Inauguration Committee now begins its assignment fully.