The current economic challenges occasioned by the outbreak of Coronavirus, in the country will not stop salary payment and completion of legacy projects and other developmental initiatives in the state, Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has assured.
Fayemi gave the assurance at the Civil Centre complex in Ado Ekiti, during an inspection of some building and road projects in the state on Monday.
The governor also inspected facilities at the state’s isolation centre in Ado- Ekiti where he interacted with some health workers on duty.
Fayemi said the enormous pressure on the finances of the state would not cause projects to be abandoned as stipulated in the state’s Transition law.
He explained that the current priority of his administration in the face of the current economic situation was to maintain recurrent expenditure, particularly in relation to salaries of workers, which he said remained a top priority.
Reiterating commitment to the completion of the projects, Fayemi said: “These are legacy projects and we are not going to leave them abandoned. Don’t forget that we have a law now in Ekiti, that says you cannot abandon a project as a government.”
The governor expressed satisfaction at the pace at which the contractors were working, adding that they had exhibited commitment to delivering the projects within the time frame given to them by the state government.
Speaking on the Civic Centre, the governor revealed that the contractor handling the project had made significant progress since his last visit to the site with the hope that the work would be completed by May.
“The elevations are up, the generator is here, the tilings have been completed inside.
“The ceiling work is being done, the air conditioning unit, the electrical, as far as the Civic Centre is concerned, I think they have almost finished the internal works. What remains is the external work and the outer element of the work,” he added.
Fayemi further disclosed that the abandoned Phase 5 lots 1 and 2 of the secretariat building would be completed by August of this year.
He said: “In all the other places that I have been to, work is progressing well; the buildings at the secretariat are still on course for completion, by August 2020; this (referring to the Civic Centre) definitely should be finished by May at the rate at which they are going. All that will remain are the external works that they will have to do.”
He also revealed that the new Ado-Iyin Road which was expected to be completed by April, 2021 had been opened up to Iyin axis, with majority of the rocks blasted and asphalt laid on about two kilometres part of the road.
He added that the enumeration of the work would soon start.
