Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has promised to recover into the government treasury over N1billon debt owed the state government by some of the beneficiaries of the state housing estates before the expiration of his tenure.
The governor also restated the commitment of his government to reverse the impunity that has characterised land administration in the state.
Fayemi disclosed these yesterday in Ado- Ekiti when he received the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Land and related matters in the state.
Apparently miffed by the level of corruption, poor record keeping and lack of transparency that characterised the allocation of lands in the state, the governor directed the immediate constitution of ministerial committee to advise the government on how to reform its apparatus in charge of land administration.
He said the commitment of his administration to eradicate unlawful land transaction was to achieve an effective land administration to enhance government’s efforts in achieving poverty reduction and promoting economic growth.
The governor, who disclosed that the government had been informed of the existence of vast undeveloped parcels of land and lack of record of ownership or evidence of payment for some property in the state housing estates, ordered the committee on recovery of money owed the state government to present a formal report on it to enable the government take necessary action.
According to him, “My administration is determined to reverse the impunity that has characterised land administration. As a first step, I accept the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry for a holistic reform of all the agencies responsible for land administration in this state.
“I have directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to immediately constitute a ministerial committee with a mandate to advise the government on practical steps towards achieving this goal.
“Let me also use this opportunity to formally acknowledge the work of the committee on the recovery of monies owed the state government over the sale of landed property in government housing estates.
“It is simply unacceptable that the sum of over N1billion is owed the government by beneficiaries of these property, majority of whom have simply refused to pay. The committee has been directed to ensure the full recovery of all monies owed.”
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, in his remark, revealed that a total of 43 petitions and memoranda were received in the course of its assignment, adding that the commission through the adoption of alternative dispute resolution mechanism was able to determine the final right of the parties in 20 cases.
He said members of the commission also made on-the-spot assessment to various locations to test the veracity of the oral evidence led at the public sitting of the commission.
Source: This Day Live
