News Obiaks News

Ekiti State Government yesterday began the construction of the multi-billion naira Airport, as it commenced the clearing of 4000 hectares of land for its effective take off. The Airport project which was approved by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration in 2009, had suffered set back due to lack of political will for its implementation by previous administrations in the state.

Meantime, Governor Ayo Fayose, at a meeting the with principals and headmasters of the State public schools in preparation for the World Teachers’ Day coming up on Monday, pleaded with them to ensure that students’ performances in West African Examination Council and National Examination Council improve in the interest of the State. At the meeting which took place at the Governor’s office yesterday, the Governor promised that his government would continue to celebrate teachers through prompt payment of all benefits , so that the feat achieved in his first term in education can be replicated.

The State Government yesterday began the screening and interview of over 2,000 applicants who applied for various health positions with the Health Management Board for the recruitment of 100 health personnel into consequential vacancies in the State Ministry of Health. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kolawole Aina, said those to be appointed among the job seekers will be strictly based on merit and competence because of the sensitivity of the services they render to the society.

Ekiti State Commissioner for works, Mr. Kayode Oso, who supervised the clearing of Airport site yesterday, told newsmen that Governor Fayose had set up a planning Committee for the project a month ago, adding that the Committee had consulted widely with relevant consultancy firms and professionals on the project and also visited several airports in the country for assessment.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on Friday explained to primary and secondary school head teachers that the state government is expecting the Federal Government to approve more money for it in the ongoing bail-out funds being given to states. Fayose spoke in Ado-Ekiti during an interactive session with them as part of the preparations for the celebration of this year’s Teachers’ Day.

The governor said the state government applied for over N29 billion and that the 16 local governments put in for N5.6 billion, but the amounts approved and given the state were far below expectations. The explanation was contained in a statement by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi. Fayose was quoted as saying that “The state government was only given N9.6 billion, while only N991 million was approved for the local governments. Also, the statutory allocation for the state for the month had a shortfall of about N600 million.

“The FG did not capture most of the items listed and even refused to give any money concerning gratuities and pensions. From what we got, we have paid September 2014 salary and leave bonus. The stakeholders that usually meet monthly to decide how to disburse monthly allocation to all agencies of government will meet and find the way out for us to be able to pay September 2015 salary.” Fayose, while commending the teachers for their support for the government, urged them to be more dedicated to their duties.