Ekiti State government has faulted a recent publication by Sahara Reporters’ on the 2024 Budget Performance of the State.
This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun.
The Information Commissioner described the report as biased, manipulative, malicious, reckless and irresponsible.
The statement reads: “We find it rather ridiculous on the part of Sahara Reporters, to attempt to exclude the Health sector from the N314million spent on office furniture, giving the fact Government had repeatedly explained that its non-specialized procurements, such as furniture, are done centrally and distributed on delivery by suppliers across ministries, departments and agencies.
“It is clear that Sahara Reporters was deliberately trying to misinform the general public as the publication chose to disregard the contents of page 38 of the same report which shows the State Government had in the same period incurred capital expenditure of N1.74billion on health and N4.3billion on education.
“In addition, It is clearly stated in the report that N4,096,089,130.00 was expended as capital expenditure in the Agric sub-sector on page 36.
“This style of biased and manipulative reporting by Sahara Reporters is not only malicious but reckless and irresponsible.
“For the benefit of doubt, the State Government during the period under review, successfully renovated and provided state-of-the- art equipment for the Okeyinmi Health Centre, Ado Ekiti, renovated nine General Hospitals in Ijan, Ijesa-Isu, Okemesi, Efon-Alaaye, Iye, Ayede, Ilupeju/Itapa, Ifaki Ekiti, Government House Clinic, Hospital Management Board (HMB) and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Ado-Ekiti.
“Within the same period, medical equipment including Semed 2D mammogram machine with digitizer and printer, 16 100AH batteries, 10KVA inverter, Hospital bed with ABS, Bedside locker ABS-150 units, Theatre operating table hydraulic, Ceiling-type LED theatre lamp, Wheelchair, Dental chair with a camera, Patient transfer trolley ABS Type, Emergency trolley ABS Type and Stainless steel patient transfer trolley were acquired by the state government.
“It is also on record that, the State Government commenced parity payment to Doctors in the State Ministry of Health and Hospital Management Board, renovated and rehabilitated the Comprehensive Health Center at Adin-Ilawe as well as constructed Neonatal Intensive Care unit, oxygen gas plant, the students hostel at the College of Nursing Sciences, renovated the main theatre, male medical ward, female medical ward, all at EKSUTH.
“It must also be stated that the insinuation that only N200 million was spent on the rehabilitation of public schools with development partners’ programmes such as the Adolescent Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project as well as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) interventions is incorrect. the State Government paid a sum of N1.3billion as counterpart fund in August, this year aside another N1.3billon paid in April, 2023. Given the State Government’s contribution is 50.
“The partnerships have facilitated multi-million naira projects in all the 203 public secondary schools and the six technical colleges in the State.
“While urging people in the State to completely disregard the persistent attempt by Sahara Reporters to downplay the globally acknowledged rising profile of the State and portray efforts of our Government in bad light, it must be stated categorically that these vitriolic outpourings of Sahara Reporters are deliberate attacks on people in the State.
“The State Government will however not be distracted from its commitment to all round development of the State and making life easier for the people. That is our focus!
“Sahara Reporters will do well to read our reports fully, carry out necessary investigations and seek clarifications before rushing to the press with a potpourri of childish claims and outright falsehood.”