According to the contract details, the project was awarded to the permanent secretary in the “Government House and Protocol Department.”
A2zgist review of the Ekiti State Open Contracting Portal has revealed that a contract worth N320 million was awarded for the construction of a guest house chalet within the Government House.
According to the contract details, the project was awarded to the permanent secretary in the “Government House and Protocol Department.”
The contract was awarded on October 8, 2025.
This development comes amid growing calls for prudence in the management of government resources.
It also follows A2zgist’ earlier report that 20 key government agencies failed to secure funding for their capital projects in Ekiti State.
A further review of the Ekiti State audited financial statement for the year ended December 2024 shows that 35 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 the Ministry of Information and Values Orientation; the Office of Establishment and Service Matters; the Office of Capacity Development and Reforms; the Ekiti State Civil Service Commission; the Office of Political and Economic Affairs; the Directorate of Farm Settlement and Peasant Farmers Development; and the Central Internal Audit.
Additional agencies and departments listed are: 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 State 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, A2zgist previously reported that contracts worth billions of naira were awarded 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 18-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 awarded by the state government for N45 million, with the contractor listed as a “Permanent Secretary.”
Other contracts awarded to permanent secretaries included one for internal electrification and installation of a 1MVA, 33/0.415KVA transformer at the 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 extension of a 33KVA dedicated line from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, to the 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 the airport, costing N75.3 million; and the provision of additional office spaces for airlines and agencies at the airport, which cost N42.9 million.
Another contract for the construction of four observation spots at the Ekiti State Airport was awarded at a 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; both were awarded to a “Permanent Secretary.”
The awarding of contracts to the office of ‘Permanent Secretaries’ suggests that the state government lacks competitive bidding in its contract award process.
