Ekiti State Government Provides Zero Funding To 35 Agencies For Capital Projects

While some agencies received no funding for projects, SaharaReporters previously reported awards of contracts worth billions of naira to permanent secretaries.

A SaharaReporters’ review of the Ekiti State audited financial statement for the year ended December 2024 has shown that thirty-five government agencies received no funding for their capital expenditure.

The review indicates that the total capital budget for the affected agencies and departments stood at N3.3 billion.

The affected offices include: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Deputy Governor’s Office, Independent Project Monitoring Office, Ekiti State Boundary Commission, Ekiti State Mortgage Board, Ekiti State Liaison Office, Abuja, Ekiti State Liaison Office, Lagos, Ekiti State Muslim Board, Capital Development Authority, and Ekiti State Pensions Board.

Others include: Ministry of Information and Values Orientation, Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Office of Capacity Development and Reforms, Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, Office of Political and Economic Affairs, Directorate of Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmers Development, and Central Internal Audit.

Other listed agencies and departments include: Technical Adviser on Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Office of Human Capital Development and Allied Matters, Ekiti State Mineral Resources Development Agency, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Ekiti State Housing Corporation, Office of Public Defender, Ministry of Regional and Special Duties, Ekiti State Library Board, Ekiti State Trust Fund, Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education, Ekiti State College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero, Ekiti, Ekiti State Board for Technical and Vocational Education, and Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission.

Others are: Ekiti University Teaching Hospital, Ekiti Drugs Health Supply Management, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, and Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs.

While some agencies received no funding for projects, SaharaReporters previously reported awards of contracts worth billions of naira to permanent secretaries.

For instance, the “Supply and Installation of an Instrument Landing System” at the Ekiti State airport project, costing N3.3 billion, was awarded to a “Permanent Secretary.”

The procuring agency was listed as the “Ministry of Transportation.” Another contract for the procurement of one eighteen-seater Sunray bus and four Bajaj motorcycles, costing N75.1 million, was also awarded to a “Permanent Secretary.”

Another contract for the “Second Phase of Establishment of a Standard Meteorological Station” was listed as awarded for N45 million by the state government.

The contractor was, however, listed as a “Permanent Secretary.” Other contracts awarded to permanent secretaries included a contract for Internal Electrification and Installation of a 1MVA, 33/0.415KVA Transformer at Ekiti State Cargo Airport, estimated at N281.731 million.

Another contract was awarded for the Installation of Terminal Floodlights/Solar Streetlights at Ekiti Airport at the cost of N275.9 million.

Others included the contract for the Extension of a 33KVA Dedicated Line from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, to Ekiti State Cargo Airport, awarded at the cost of N280 million to a “Permanent Secretary”; the Supply of Portacabins and Other Items Needed for the Establishment of a Police Security Post at Ekiti State Cargo Airport, which cost N75.3 million; and the Provision of Additional Office Spaces for Airlines and Agencies at Ekiti State Airport, which cost N42.9 million.

Another contract for the Construction of Four Observation Spots at Ekiti State Airport was awarded at the cost of N31 million.

The state government also awarded two contracts for airport operational and other equipment at N1.162 billion each, totaling N2.324 billion; they were, however, awarded to a “Permanent Secretary.”

The awarding of contracts to the office of “Permanent Secretaries” suggests a lack of a competitive bidding process by the state government in the award of contracts. 

Source: SaharaReporters.com | Read the Full Story…