Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has again lamented the depressing debt profile of the state, blaming it on the immediate past administration of former governor Kayode Fayemi.

Speaking during a low-key celebration of his 100 days in office yesterday, Fayose said the state government needed about N7.5 billion to settle arrears of entitlements due to public servants in the state.

Speaking while inaugurating some projects to mark his 100 days in office in Ado-Ekiti, the governor said the entitlements included August and September 2014 salaries of some workers, subventions due to state-owned institutions and leave bonus, among others.

He, however, noted that despite the enormous debts inherited from the previous administration, he had to strive to execute some projects and also ensure the prompt payment of salaries.

"We have about N7.8 billion obligation to workers in the state. The obligations were left behind by the former administration. Over N2 billion as leave bonus to workers. Over N1billion as deductions from workers' salaries that the former administration did not remit. They did not pay some workers August and September 2014 salaries amounting to over N2 billion; subventions to tertiary institutions, which is over N2 billion as well.

"I don't know where to start, sometimes I cannot sleep. We did not inherit anything tangible from the former administration.

"The six months' moratorium from banks that we got, will lapse in two months and when that happens, banks will be deducting N780 million monthly to service the over N31 billion loans the former administration left behind."

"Also, N800 million is deducted from our statutory allocation monthly to service the N25 billion bond that they took. We have approached four banks to borrow us money to pay at least one month out of the two months salaries owed some workers. But essential things must be done. I call for understanding from people and I am committed to making life better for the people," he said.

He added that paying workers' salaries promptly had become a cardinal point of his administration, given the poor state of the economy and finances of the state.

The governor said the challenges met in office would never be an excuse for him not to perform his duties and fulfill his electoral promises.

Among the projects inaugurated were the rehabilitated Matthew Road, Ado-Ekiti, Bisi Market, Awedele Road, Ado-Ekiti, drainages along Ajilosun Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Others are 12 ambulances, 19 patrol vans for security agencies,  20 motorbikes, three tractors and 12 waste vehicles.

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