The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has asked Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop peddling lies about the e-payment system introduced by a former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The Ekiti State Government, on Tuesday, began the verification of 48,977 workers in the state public service, which would last till next week Monday, while the payment of April salary would begin on Wednesday.

Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, in a statement on Sunday, said the verification exercise was aimed at preventing about N500m from being lost to ghost workers monthly through the e-payment system contracted to a private company by the Fayemi administration.

But the APC faulted Fayose, saying discrediting the scheme was another lie to defend his alleged greed, insensitivity and lack of commitment to the welfare of Ekiti workers.

The state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement on Tuesday said, “The e-payment system is the system employed all over the world, including many PDP-controlled states and at the federal level. The e-payment system has proved very effective in Ekiti State as workers were not owed any salary for the period Fayemi was in the saddle.

“The system has also been used by Fayose in paying workers since he assumed office; and so when did he suddenly discover that the e-payment system is not good?”

Olatubosun said if there was any system that had the potential to eliminate fraud in salary payment; the e-payment was the answer.

The statement added, “We are aware of his plans to bring into Ekiti civil service outsiders from Ibadan who are his cronies against the civil service rules.

“Ekiti workers should ask Fayose why the same e- payment system ensured their regular salary payment under the Fayemi administration but it is now impossible under his administration despite the reduction in the work force as many workers, including permanent secretaries, have been sacked.

“Many employment schemes that take millions of naira from the government’s treasury have been cancelled by the governor, a six month moratorium was granted in bond debt repayment, which enabled him to save N3bn.”

Olatubosun challenged the governor to tell Ekiti people how much he pays monthly to his Anambra and Ogun states election sponsors.

While sympathising with the workers, he urged them to use all legal means to demand their pay and “resist any disguised attempt to sack them as the current verification exercise was another smokescreen for a fraudulent agenda against workers’ interest.”