Posted by: Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti


The Ekiti State government has acknowledged the receipt of the N2billion Ecological Fund. Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Youth and Sports, Lanre Ogunsuyi, confirmed receipt of the fund from the Federal Government.
The receipt of the money caused a row between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the opposition claiming that the governor received the ecological fund on December 31, which the government denied.
Hard times await Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as Governor Ayo Fayose has approved the reduction of their monthly running grants by as much as 60 per cent.
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Toyin Ojo said this yesterday while analysing the 2015 Budget passed into law by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Assembly.
Ojo said the reduction of running grants to MDAs was “part of the fiscal caution taken to reduce spending to save funds for capital projects”.
The commissioner said government reduced MDAs from 36 to 14 to cut spending and saving more money to carry out projects.
Ojo said the government would revive the Integrated Poultry Scheme at four designated centres.
Fayose, during his first stint in power, carried out a poultry project which became controversial as the governor was sued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the N1.3 billion project.
Although the case is still in court, Fayose is covered by immunity in line with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
The earlier poultry project was established in the 16 local governments and four special centres.
Ojo said the global economic recession that has cut down the oil proceeds in Nigeria has taken a toll on the state’s finances.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ekiti-confirms-receipt-n2b-ecological-fund/

Fayose