Ayodele Fayose Ekiti state governor, has joined the ongoing strike called by labour unions in his state, saying he is handicapped.
Fayose, who has met a brick wall in his efforts to make workers end the industrial action, expressed sympathy with them, explaining that he decided to join them to express his concern.
Appealing to them to return to work, the governor said he has opened up to labour leaders on the financial situation of the state.
He admitted that the situation was beyond him, saying things might continue that way until the country finds a solution to the economic crisis as a result of sharp decline in the price of oil.
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“I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with them. I share your pains, but it is rather unfortunate that a man can’t give what he doesn’t have,” he said in a broadcast.
“Presently, I am handicapped and there is nothing I can do. I appeal that you put the interest of the state above everything, because the present position affects everybody.
“I have told you the true position of the finances of the state, of which you had played critical roles in allocation of federal allocations to relevant sectors which shows how well I had carried you along since the dwindling revenue to the state commenced.
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“During my first term, I mean, 2003 to 2006, I used to pay salary of workers by 21st of every month. But the present situation is very unfortunate and we have to learn how to live with it until the country wriggles out of it and things will change for better.
“I want to say that I will be expecting you back to your offices when you are ready to return to work. I shall be expecting you.”
4 comments
Whose responsibility to govern the ekiti state now or the state should be considered and declare state of emergency?
Mr Governor, as things stands now, i think its time to put on our thinking caps and come up with ideas that can boost the revenue of your state, not join the workers in solidarity strike, feeling their pain is not enough you have to come up with ideas that will bring in money while using these same set of workers to actualise the ideas. a Yoruba adage says ögbon kin tan laye ka wa lo sorun”meaning solutions to our challenges can only be found here on earth. Task the labour leaders to come up with quick workable ideas that can help the state not just calling their members out on strike. We are in a dire situation now in the country, all hands must be doing something meaningful!
Fayose had money to go to China just to act as opposition to APC. He had money to buy branded 1 kg rice for PDP members/so called ‘the poor’. He had money to start building an Airport that an average Ekiti man will not use but he did not have money for workers salary. Ekiti people / Nigeria Govt needs to put on their thinking Cap..
Thank you Akins. Beyond embarking on non critical projects, you find out that both the executive and legislature in the state have continued in their luxury living in the full view of these workers. If one investigates, you will be shocked at how much Fayose and other governors still allocate to themselves as security votes. They prefer to still embark on non critical projects because it is through such projects that they steal money in forms of over invoicing, kick back etc. They will not make money for themselves by paying workers’ salaries.