The Ekiti State government has said that the claims by the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC), lawmakers in the state that they have not been paid is false and dishonest. The claims on behalf of the APC lawmakers was made by Mr. Wole Olujobi who claimed to be their spokesperson.
According to Mr. Olujobi, Governor Ayo Fayose had placed an embargo on the bank accounts belonging to the lawmakers as he did not want to pay them their entitlements.
In a statement issued on behalf of the state government on Sunday, May 31, 2015 by the state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo, the government claim that the lawmakers have been duly paid all their entitlement and that the lawmakers acknowledged the receipt of their payment on Wednesday, May 27, 2015.
The statement reads; “We would have remained silent in deference to the agreement reached at the last Monday meeting in Akure that all parties should maintain silence on the outcome of the meeting, especially because the lawmakers said they do not want their leaders to know the outcome of the meeting.
“However, since the lawmakers have chosen not to abide by this agreement by first issuing press statement to deny and reveal what was discussed in the meeting, and now going to the press to say that they have not received any payment, the government does not have any other option than to tell the public the truth and set the records straight.
“The government is by this press statement putting the records straight since the money paid to the lawmakers belong to Ekiti people. The payment was made in cheques because the lawmakers pleaded that their accounts should not be credited directly so as to avoid the banks from making deductions for loans taken from the banks.
“Saying that they have not been paid is quite unfortunate and unbecoming of honourable members of the State House of Assembly and this is sad. We will want to keep our fingers crossed and we wish to caution the lawmakers to adhere strictly to the spirit of the agreements.
“Governor Fayose’s good gesture, aimed at ensuring peace in the State should not be abused.”
