Afenifere chieftain and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye has described the refusal of the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to pay the 27.5 per cent teachers’ peculiar allowance otherwise known Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) as wicked and inhuman, saying; “Teachers in Ekiti State must be paid their full entitlements.”
Adeyeye said in a release signed by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, that; “The Fayemi-led Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) government does not have any excuse to stop the payment of the 27.5 per cent TSS because PDP government of Engr Segun Oni was paying it before he (Fayemi) became governor.”
The governorship aspirant, who urged traditional rulers and religious leaders in the State to prevail on Governor Fayemi to accede to the demand of the teachers, added that it was painful that children who were suppose to be in school, receiving lectures are now roaming about the streets because of the avoidable teachers strike.
Adeyeye said; “What is so difficult in paying workers their entitlements? After all, this 27.5 per cent TSS was being paid before Fayemi became governor and revenue coming to Ekiti from the federation account was not up to what it is now.
“I even heard that the governor is proposing 15 per cent on the grounds of paucity of funds. That is Fayemi’s hatred for teachers carried too far!
“Why is he (Fayemi) not talking about reducing his Security Vote that he increased by over 300 per cent? Why is the governor not proposing a reduction in the number of political appointees that he has?
“I think the best advise to Fayemi is for him to seek counsel from his immediate predecessor, who paid the 27.5 per cent TSS, established two universities, constructed over 500 kilometres of road, built 155 Blue Hospitals among other laudable projects without borrowing one kobo.
“It is on record that the Fayemi-led government has borrowed over N30 billion both from banks and the capital market, and the government is still planing to borrow more not minding the increasing revenue from the federation account to the State.
“It is even being said that Ekiti properties in Lagos and Abuja are being contemplated to serve as collateral for another huge loan to be taken from banks.
“Therefore, what Fayemi should do is to stop this attitude of spending income that should accrue to Ekiti in 30 years within four years, reduce wastage by stopping white elephant projects like the Mountain Top Government House that his government is embarking on.”
