By Oludamisi Ojo

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has refuted the claim that his administration had been diverting the funds being released from the federation accounts for other purposes.

Fayemi described the allegation coming from a former Ado Ekiti Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Omotunde Fajuyi, as a desperate attempt to defame his character and portray his government as being corrupt.

Fajuyi, in a statement, on Friday, accused Fayemi’s government of releasing a paltry sum of N4.5 million to her as a council boss out of over N100 million being released from the federation, claiming that that hampered the development of her local government.

But debunking the claim in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka  Oyebode, on Saturday, Fayemi said: “The attention of the general public is hereby drawn to a  misleading news story in circulation and credited to the former Ado Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Fajuyi, where she was reported to have alleged that she signed for N100 million allocation monthly, while she held sway as council boss, only to be given a paltry N7 million to run the council.

“While it serves no purpose joining issues with Mrs. Fajuyi, it is important to state that either Mrs. Fajuyi or the news media that reproduced her radio interview misrepresented the facts of the matter, hence, the need to put the record straight for the sake of the reading public and to correct the wrong impression created.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the local government is determined by the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) at the state level. This is in line with relevant provisions of the law.

“While the JAAC meeting is held monthly to determine how the allocations to the local government would be disbursed, it is on record that Governor Kayode Fayemi has never meddled in the JAAC affairs nor superintend over any of its meetings. Except for mischief, Mrs. Fajuyi knew the Governor never had anything to do with JAAC throughout her tenure as council boss.

“It is common knowledge that the difference between Gross Allocation to all local government (After FAAC) and Net Distributable (ND) is because of some statutory deductions which are usually done before the local government councils are credited.

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“These statutory deductions include payment of staff salary; primary school teachers’ salary; payment of traditional institutions, proportional payment of pensioners, payment of political office holders, including the Chairman; payment of health workers salary, proportional payment for security outfits.

“All the above are deducted at the JAAC meeting which usually has in attendance the council chairmen, Commissioner for Local Government, state and local government auditors general, among other state officials.

“It is important for serving and former public office holders to always demonstrate a high sense of responsibility in their daily conduct and public engagements, be as truthful as possible, avoid mischief and unwarranted mudslinging as did Mrs. Fajuyi.

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Fayemi said it is shameful that Mrs. Fajuyi’s remarks have created the impression of unwholesome financial activities on the part of state officials.