The Ekiti State House of Assembly has again invited a former governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over the controversial N850 million State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds.
The House also adopted the state Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) 2017 – 2019 document as its document at plenary on Tuesday.
Leader of the House, Olatunji Akinyele, noted that “Some time ago, the former governor was invited to this honourable House to come and explain how N850 million State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund disappeared when he was the governor of the state. But it is unfortunate that he failed to appear before this House.
“The former governor decided to ignore the invitation of this House. This House is saddled with the responsibility to investigate any financial mismanagement of this state; he should give us room to exercise our duties. He must obey the rule of law, if truly the Federal Government, which he is working for as Solid Mineral Minister, is claiming to be fighting corruption. He should live by example,” he said.
Other members of the House, including the chairman, House Committee on Information, Honourable (Dr) Samuel Babajide; chairman, committee on Finance and Appropriation, Samuel Jeje, among others were in agreement that, “The corruption they are fighting must be holistic.
“This House is empowered to investigate any act of mismanagement of government fund. Ekiti State is known as a fountain of knowledge and this issue we are talking about has to do with education.
“We have been unable to rehabilitate the schools, due to the fact that we cannot account for the money collected by the administration of the formal governor. Our schools are suffering in the state; no enough infrastructural facilities and this money is meant to provide basic needs for the schools.
“Fayemi should be honourable enough to come and explain how the said money was spent. His failure to appear before this House has affected the legislative work of this House.
“This House passed the resolution to re-invite him again to appear before it and explain his roles on the money meant for SUBEB on the 16th December, 2016.”
The House also ratified the resolution of Ekiti South-West Legislative Council over the suspension of a councilor, Arowolo Kolawole, representing Ilawe Ward 9.
The Speaker of the House, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, had constituted and ad-hoc committee to investigate the local government matter.
Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Badejo Anifowose, representing Moba constituency II, while delivering the report of the committee, explained that through oral and other investigation evidences, it was learnt that the said councilor was engaging in unruly behaviour towards the authorities and that he was disobedient to the party rules.
The House resolved to suspend the councilor until further notice so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
