The Ekiti State Government has reportedly spent ₦470 million on the construction of a new ₦1.8 billion lodge in Abuja for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, sparking public concern over the state’s spending priorities.
According to official budget records, the funds were allocated for the “construction of new governor and deputy governor lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.” A review by SaharaReporters showed that ₦470 million was expended between January and September 2025.
The report also revealed that a separate ₦320 million contract was awarded on October 8, 2025, for the construction of a guest house chalet within the Government House, with the contract issued to a permanent secretary in the Government House and Protocol Department.
This comes at a time when many agencies in the state have struggled to access funds for essential capital projects. An audit of Ekiti’s 2024 financial report indicated that 35 government agencies received no capital funding despite having a combined budget of ₦3.3 billion.
Among the affected institutions were the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Deputy Governor’s Office, Ekiti State Mortgage Board, Civil Service Commission, and several liaison offices and agencies responsible for public development, housing, and healthcare.
Further investigations revealed that numerous multi-million naira contracts — including those for the Ekiti Airport Project, transformer installations, and other infrastructure works — were awarded to “permanent secretaries” rather than independent contractors, raising questions about transparency and due process.
Critics have accused the state government of misplacing priorities by funding luxury projects for political officeholders while neglecting crucial sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The development has reignited calls for accountability and stricter monitoring of public expenditure in Ekiti State.
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