Place premium on projects, Ekiti elders tell Fayose

The Ekiti Council of Elders has advised Governor Ayodele Fayose to place premium on projects that will add immediate value to the lives of the citizens.

It also tasked him to to tackle the dwindling resources for the state by improving on the Internally Generated Revenue.
In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Chief Deji Fasuan, after its ordinary meeting of October 31, the Council, which advised the Governor to deemphasise preference for capital projects with long gestation period, said it appeared that Ekiti people had no tolerance for projects that had no immediate value on their lives.

“We recommended that the little resources available to government be spent on projects that will have immediate value on the populace.

“Deliberate efforts should now be made to reduce emphasis on capital projects that have long gestation period before the benefit can reach our people. It appears Ekiti people have no tolerance for projects that have no immediate value on their lives.

“We want to advise the new administration to address as quickly the welfare of the citizens, especially as relates to unpaid salaries, wages and other benefits that can a multiplying effects on the local economy,” the Council stated.

The council noted that the immediate past government made tremendous efforts at improving the State’s IGR. It, however, stated that the feat was still “still abysmally low compared to other political units in Nigeria.”

It appealed to Ekitis at home and in the diaspora to invest in the state to supports efforts by the government to provide employment.

The council also appealed to politicians, irrespective of their party leanings to sustain the relative peace being enjoyed after the June 21 Governorship election in the state.

“Ekiti needs peace for necessary development. By all means we will continue to belong to different political persuasions, but Ekiti , our land of honour and fountain of knowledge should progress and develop peacefully for the benefit of all.

“We recall with regret the unnecessary loss of lives which characterized some attempted court proceeding , an event that is now regarded as a black spot in our constitutional march to full democracy.”