By Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose yesterday told the state’s entire workforce to vote according to their conscience in the March 28 Presidential election and April 11 State and? National Assembly
election.
Fayose said, being?a proponent of? apolitical and non-partisan civil
service,?he would not coerce the workers to vote for? any
Peoples Democratic Party candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The Governor made the remarks during a meeting with the workers held at the State Pavilion in Ado Ekiti.
Fayose said his government would continue to place high premium on the
welfare of workers, in spite of the poor financial situation of the
State.
Revealing that the? immediate past government led by Dr Kayode Fayemi
left a whopping sum of N7.7 billion as arrears of salaries and
allowances , Fayose assured that his government shall meet all demands
of the workers as soon as the finances of the State improve.
The governor said he would ever be grateful to the state civil
servants for joining the forces that returned him to power after eight
years of his exit from power.
Fayose, who pleaded for patience, appealed to workers to show
understanding in view of the critical financial situation of the
State.
He said: ?I won?t be a governor that would take advantage of you. I
won?t promise what I won?t be able to meet. Ekiti is financially
challenged now in view of the huge debt left behind by immediate past
government and drop in oil price .
?This is not an attempt to malign anybody , but we have to state the
facts as they are. We have tried to borrow money from banks, but they
refused because we have not? paid the one that was borrowed by the
last administration. So, we can?t pay all allowances now?.
Warning that any worker found playing politics shall be disciplined,
Fayose said? there is need to depoliticise the civil service to
improve productivity and professionalism.
?If I politicize the service my own way and another person? come and
do same, we will end up destroying the service. That is why any civil
servant found playing politics arbitrarily shall be disciplined.
?My own way of getting votes shall be doing those things that would
promote your welfare. And if you love me under this context, you will
love whatever political course that I support. I want to make it clear
that I won?t force you to vote for any candidate in this election.
Just go and vote according to your conscience?, Fayose advised.
Fayose pledged his resolve to continue to defend? the workers and all
the indigenes of the State, who are being oppressed under any guise,
?because you? elected as a governor to defend? the interest of Ekiti
people?.
?I have told the Head of Service that any worker that felt he was
oppressed or unjustly sacked under Fayemi , I mean those with genuine
case should write to me and I shall look into such case
dispassionately?, he assured.
