Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has criticised the Federal Government over plans to remove fuel subsidy and to jerk up fuel price of petrol from N87 to N97 per barrel next year.

Fayose also condemned the Federal Government’s call on Nigerians to prepare for harder times in 2016 as “callous and wicked.”

He described the plans as anti-people saying they would further impoverish the living standard of the people.

The governor made the remark in his office after signing six bills, including the 2016 N67 billion appropriation bill into law.

The other bills were Ekiti State College of Technology and Commercial Agriculture; Ekiti State Anti-Terrorism and Kidnap Law, Ekiti State 2015 Revised Appropriation Law and Ekiti State Regency Law.

The 2016 appropriation bill was passed by the assembly a week after it was presented to the state legislature for approval.

The approved budget is made up of N42.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and N24.9 billion for capital expenditure.

Fayose, who commended the lawmakers for the quick passage of the bill, however, directed that copies of the budget be made and sent to all the anti-graft agencies to enable them monitor the execution of the document.

The governor, who lamented the harsh economic conditions Nigerians are passing through, alleged that the APC-led Federal Government did not have the clue to the nation’s problems calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to quit and allow more competent person to take over.

He said: “I appeal to everybody to allow peace in the state. If we don’t have political unrest, the state will be at peace. It is politicians that are creating problems.”

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Kola Oluwawole, said the approved budget would not only empower the people of the state, but also make life more meaningful for them.

Oluwawole said that the bill was quickly passed by the Assembly because its members were involved right from its conception and pledged that the assembly would continue to partner the executive in implementing policies that will improve the standard of living of the people. (Daily Trust)

•Photo shows Governor Fayose.