Ekiti Funding Government House Projects Outside Budget

The Ekiti State Government spent over N2.1 billion outside approved budgetary provisions on projects within the Government House premises in Ado-Ekiti, NewsNGR can authoritatively report.

This is according to the state’s third-quarter 2026 budget performance document reviewed by NewsNGR, which shows that the government spent more than the amounts approved for three projects within the Government House.

A lawyer, Awosusi Kehinde told NewsNGR that the development raises questions about the state’s budget implementation process and its compliance with approved spending provisions, particularly as public budgets are expected to guide government expenditure and ensure that public funds are spent for purposes authorised by the legislature.

Usually, budgets are prepared to regulate government expenditure and provide a framework for allocating public resources to projects, programmes and other government activities.

The estimates contained in a budget which are always published by respective governments represent the administration’s fiscal plan, outlining how much it intends to spend and the specific purposes for which the funds are approved.

Awosusi told NewsNGR that spending outside approved budgetary provisions could be illegal, noting that the budget has the force of law and should guide government expenditure.

“A budget is a law and ordinarily you are not supposed to spend outside its provision,” he told NewsNGR.

According to the budget estimates published in official documents by the Ekiti State Government, N100 million was approved for the renovation of government guest houses in Ado-Ekiti. However, by the end of September 2026, the government had spent N1.4 billion on the project, exceeding its approved allocation by N1.3 billion.

Similarly, the government spent more than the amount approved for the renovation, landscaping and beautification of the Government House premises in Ado-Ekiti.

Although N150 million was allocated to the project, the third-quarter budget performance document showed that N250.9 million had been spent as of September 2026. This means the expenditure exceeded the approved allocation by N100.9 million.

The construction of buildings and other infrastructure within the Government House premises also recorded spending above its approved allocation.

The state had budgeted N800 million for the project. However, expenditure had risen to N1.5 billion by the end of September, representing an excess of N783.7 million over the approved provision.

The figures show that the three projects recorded expenditure above their respective budgetary allocations within the period under review, with the combined excess spending accounting for over N2.1 billion spent outside the approved provisions.

Apart from the three projects that exceeded their budgetary allocations, the Ekiti State Government also made provisions for other projects and purchases within government facilities.

The state budgeted N100 million for the renovation of the ‘Adebayo Lodge’ Government House in Ado-Ekiti. Another N500 million was earmarked by the House of Assembly for the renovation and remodelling of the Assembly complex, Commission complex and landscaping.

In addition, N800 million was allocated for the purchase of three units of 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado JX and 30 units of Toyota Corolla 2024.

The expenditure figures in the budget performance report highlight the scale of spending on projects within government facilities and the differences between the amounts initially approved and the actual expenditure recorded as of the third quarter of 2026.

Attempts by NewsNGR to obtain clarification from the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, were unsuccessful.

He did not respond to calls and messages sent to his phone line. After enquiries were sent, he briefly typed a comment but quickly deleted it. He, however, did not respond to the queries afterwards.