The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Monday, declared support for total autonomy of the local government.
He urged his colleague governors to follow suit to bring development to the grassroots.
Fayose also pardoned a local government staff and Deputy President
of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees in Ekiti State,
Com. O.B. Olatunde, who was dismissed from service for alleged
rudeness to the governor over salary crisis.‎
Fayose said the state would commute to suspension, the outright
dismissal slammed on the worker by a committee set up by the Head of service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka to try the local government staff for allegedly casting aspersion on the person of the governor during a
meeting held to resolve some salary issues.
The affected LG staff was alleged to have rudely addressed the
governor when a directive was given on how certain money should be disbursed.‎
Fayose gave the indication after meeting with the NULGE’s
reconciliatory delegation led by its National President, Com Ibrahim.
Khaleel in Ado Ekiti to appeal to the governor to rescind his
pronouncement on the erring staff.
Fayose, while briefing the delegation said: “There should be a
government the people at the grassroots can refer to as their own.
When you cede the LGs to the people, then nobody can blame a governor
for the inefficiency at that level.
“I want to appeal to my colleagues to embrace total autonomy to all
the 774 LGs in this country”.
On the punishment meted out to the Deputy President, Fayose said: “I
have decided to shift ground on this matter, even after the
recommendation of the committee because of the swift way Com. Khaleel
handles this matter. Unionism is not always about confrontation, but about respect and reconciliation.
“I want to commend the NULGE delegation for this show of solidarity
and I want to tell you that rather than dismissal, the government will
look for alternative punishment just to serve as punishment”.
Khaleel, who described Fayose as the Voice of the voiceless, said:
“I decided to honour Governor Fayose because I saw him as part of this fold. He is a comrade governor because he represents the voice of the
voiceless in Nigeria.