Stakeholders in Ekiti State have agreed with the state government on measures to be put in place to cut government spending as a way of bailing the state out of current economic challenges occasioned by the downturn in the global economy.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, disclosed that his administration would not sack any worker despite the cash crunch being experienced in Ekiti.
Both the governor and the stakeholders however agreed on some cost-saving measures including reduction in subventions to higher institutions in the state, cutting or total stoppage of running grants to offices, and discontinuation of the consequential adjustments of the minimum wage for senior categories of workers as well as ramping up of tax collection in a bid to shore up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The one-day stakeholders meeting which took place at the Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti, was called by the state government as an avenue to present the state of the state finances to the critical stakeholders comprising civil servants, traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour and trade union leaders, representatives of the academic community, student leaders, leadership of market women, artisans and transporters among others.