Public outrage has trailed revelations that the Ekiti State Government has already spent ₦470 million on the construction of a new ₦1.8 billion lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, intended for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye.
According to budget records reviewed by SaharaReporters, the amount was disbursed between January and September 2025 under the line item tagged “construction of new governor and deputy governor lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.”
Further findings revealed that on October 8, 2025, another ₦320 million contract was awarded for the construction of a guest house chalet within the Government House, Ekiti, with the contract allegedly issued to a permanent secretary in the Government House and Protocol Department.
The revelations come amid claims that several state agencies have been starved of funds for essential capital projects. A review of Ekiti’s 2024 financial report showed that 35 government agencies, including the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Deputy Governor’s Office, and the Ekiti State Mortgage Board, received no capital funding despite a collective budget of ₦3.3 billion.
Additionally, some multi-million-naira contracts—covering projects such as the Ekiti Airport, transformer installations, and infrastructure works—were reportedly awarded to serving permanent secretaries rather than independent contractors, raising serious transparency and accountability concerns.
Critics have accused the state government of misplaced priorities, arguing that while schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure suffer neglect, funds are being channelled toward luxury projects for top officials.
Civil society groups have renewed calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other oversight bodies to probe the expenditure and ensure stricter monitoring of public finances in the state.
Meanwhile, government officials have yet to issue a formal response to the controversy as public scrutiny intensifies over Ekiti’s spending record.