Ekiti Assembly to Spend ₦1.2 Billion on Chairs, Tables and Vehicles in 2026—While Key Ministries Get Zero Funding: Is This Governance or Misplaced Priorities?

A review of the Ekiti State House of Assembly’s 2026 budget estimates by SaharaReporters has revealed a controversial plan to spend ₦1.2 billion on executive chairs, tables, cabinets and office furniture, despite the fact that ₦470 million was already spent on similar items in 2025. The proposed expenditure includes 700 executive chairs, 600 tables, 200 chamber tables, 100 cabinets, 50 office shelves and 12 chair sets, raising questions about fiscal responsibility and government priorities.

In addition to furniture, the Assembly is seeking ₦800 million to procure three 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs and 30 Toyota Corolla vehicles, further fueling concerns about luxury spending amid economic challenges facing the state.

This development follows earlier revelations that ₦300 million was budgeted for the construction of a governor’s and deputy governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, even though ₦470 million had already been spent on similar projects between January and September 2025. Another contract worth ₦320 million was reportedly awarded for the construction of a guest house chalet within the Government House, allegedly to a permanent secretary, raising transparency concerns.

While billions are allocated to official residences, vehicles and office furniture, a review of Ekiti State’s audited financial statements for 2024 shows that 35 government agencies received zero funding for capital projects, despite having a combined capital budget of ₦3.3 billion. Affected institutions include the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ekiti State Pensions Board, Civil Service Commission, Housing Corporation, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Office of Public Defender, Teaching Service Commission, University Teaching Hospital, and several others critical to governance, education, healthcare and public welfare.

The report also highlights a troubling pattern in public procurement, with multiple contracts worth billions of naira reportedly awarded to individuals listed as “Permanent Secretary.” These include airport-related projects such as the ₦3.3 billion Instrument Landing System, electrification works, transformer installations, floodlight systems, and road extensions, along with smaller procurements like buses and motorcycles.

Critics argue that the growing gap between lavish government spending and the chronic underfunding of essential agencies reflects a governance crisis. As calls for transparency, accountability and prudent use of public funds intensify, the question remains: Why are billions being committed to furniture, vehicles and government lodges while critical ministries and public institutions are left unfunded?

This controversy has once again placed Ekiti State’s budgeting priorities under national scrutiny, raising fundamental concerns about public trust, fiscal discipline and whether state resources are truly being used in the best interest of citizens.

Tinubu Administration Fails to Publish 2025 Expenditure Records, Raising Transparency Concerns

As the 2025 fiscal year ends, the Bola Tinubu-led administration has not released any records of government spending on the Open Treasury Portal or the Budget Office of the Federation’s budget performance portal. Quarterly budget performance reports, critical for public accountability, remain unpublished, drawing criticism over a possible violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. Civil society groups and citizens are calling for timely disclosure of fiscal information to promote transparency and compliance with Nigeria’s fiscal laws.

ALERT: In a jaw-dropping announcement, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has revealed a bold strategy to reshape the U.S. economy by reducing government spending, re-privatizing the economy, cutting federal jobs, and turbocharging private manufacturing.

“Unite or Perish!” — Dele Farotimi Urges Nigerians to Oust APC and Rebuild the Nation


Prominent human rights lawyer and political commentator Dele Farotimi has issued a passionate call for Nigerians to unite and take decisive action to rescue the country from what he describes as the “destructive rule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

In a post shared on his verified X (Twitter) account, Farotimi warned that the APC government has brought nothing but corruption, insecurity, and economic suffering to the people, insisting that the only way forward is collective resistance and national unity.

He wrote:

“If Nigerians do not unite to get rid of the APC and rebuild their nation for their own good, the APC will keep doing what it does best — kill, steal, and destroy. Imagine the outrageous figures Professor Umahi is quoting.”



Farotimi accused the ruling party of betraying its campaign promises, enriching the elite while leaving millions of Nigerians impoverished. He described recent government spending revelations — reportedly cited by Minister of Works David Umahi — as “shameful and obscene,” saying they reflect how detached the political class has become from the real struggles of ordinary citizens

Peter Obi faults Tinubu’s reforms, says over 50 million Nigerians plunged into poverty.

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying its much-touted economic reforms have failed to reduce poverty or improve citizens’ welfare.

Citing a recent World Bank report released on October 8, 2025, Obi noted that the number of Nigerians living below the poverty line has risen to 139 million, up from 87 million in 2023 meaning that over 50 million people have fallen into poverty in just two years.

Reacting on Tuesday via X (formerly Twitter), Obi described the development as “a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens.”
He lamented that instead of sparking urgent dialogue on how to tackle the crisis, the government’s response was focused on rebuttals.

“What this means is that in two years under the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty,” Obi wrote.
“What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty.”

Obi argued that despite several reforms being celebrated by the Tinubu government, poverty continues to worsen because there is “no clear strategy or determination to channel gains into productive sectors.”

He urged the administration to pursue people-centred economic policies that prioritise production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, and increase investment in education and healthcare.

“Reforms should be deliberate and strictly followed by people-focused policies that ensure government spending directly impacts the lives of Nigerians by pulling them out of poverty,” he said.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian.”

4,000 inmates freed as FG pays fines to decongest prisons.

FG records 70% surge in 48-hour e-visa processing

The Federal Government has released more than 4,000 inmates from Correctional Centres across the Country after offsetting fines and compensation for non-violent offenders, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, has said.

Speaking at the Mid-Term Sectoral Performance Retreat of the Ministry and its Agencies on Thursday, the minister said the move was part of efforts to decongest prisons, cut down Government spending on inmate upkeep and give low-risk convicts a second chance at rehabilitation.

While outlining the reforms carried out under his leadership, he declared that the Ministry had dismantled inefficient systems, modernised critical processes and positioned Nigeria’s interior management for greater efficiency, transparency and security.

He emphasised that holding public office was “a call to service” and not just a political appointment. He said the reforms were driven by a “private sector mentality” where efficiency, accountability and legacy matter.

On prison reforms, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Ministry secured private sector funding to pay fines for over 4,000 non-violent inmates whose release had been delayed by inability to settle minor penalties.

“This has decongested correctional centres by about 5% and saved government billions of naira in feeding costs”, he added.

He urged States to take advantage of recent Constitutional amendments that moved Correctional Centres to the concurrent list, allowing them to build and manage their own facilities or enter into partnerships with Federal Government.

VeryDarkMan Renovates Dilapidated School, Shares Before After Pictures, Mocks Nyesom Wike.

Verydarkman (VDM), is a social media activist and philanthropist.
He has undertaken a new project that goes beyond his typical online activism.
VDM shared a video showcasing the renovation of a school in an undisclosed location.

Social media activist and philanthropist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), has showcased one of his latest impactful projects beyond his usual call-outs and online exposés.

The content creator shared a video of a school he renovated in an undisclosed location, highlighting the dramatic transformation.

In the first part of the clip, the school appeared to be in a deplorable condition its toilets, drainage system, staff room, and classrooms were almost unusable. Desks and chairs were worn out, and students had no access to water, making the environment unfit for learning.

Following the renovation, the entire school was repainted, with new furniture provided for the students. The staff room, toilets, and drainage system were fully refurbished, and in some cases, rebuilt from scratch.

VDM, who is currently in a public spat with singer Habeeb Olalomi Badmus (Portable), encouraged people to contact him if they know of similar schools that require urgent attention.

In his caption, the TikToker subtly criticized government spending, pointing out that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike rides in a Rolls-Royce and spent ₦30 billion renovating a conference centre, while his small team nicknamed the “ratel” handled the school project efficiently. He referred to his team as the “fourth arm of the government” and thanked supporters who contributed to the initiative, promising that this is only the beginning.

The video drew massive praise from fans, who thanked him for his generosity and mocked the government for failing to handle such basic responsibilities without overspending.

Nigeria’s Refineries May Never Work Again Despite $18bn Spent — Aliko Dangote.

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has cast doubt on the functionality of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, saying they may never work again despite the government spending an estimated $18 billion on their rehabilitation.

Speaking during a visit by members of Global CEO Africa to the Dangote Refinery, Dangote explained that the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility was built after the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s administration rejected his bid to acquire the government-owned refineries.

He recalled that he and other investors had acquired the refineries in 2007 during President Obasanjo’s tenure, but were later forced to return them following a change in government. “We bought the refineries in January 2007. At the time, they were producing only about 22% of PMS. But the new administration claimed they would fix them and canceled the sale.

Today, after spending nearly $18 billion, those refineries are still not working and I doubt they ever will,” Dangote said.

He likened the repeated rehabilitation efforts to modernizing a 40-year-old car. “Even if you replace the engine, the body can’t handle it. Technology has changed,” he added.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who initially approved the sale, has previously made similar remarks. He said Dangote and other investors paid $750 million to acquire the facilities before the Yar’adua administration reversed the decision. Obasanjo said he had warned Yar’adua that the refineries were beyond repair.

“I told him NNPC can’t fix them, but he insisted. Now, even as scrap, they may not sell for $200 million,” he said. He blamed the NNPC for knowingly mismanaging the facilities while benefiting from corruption. “In a civilised country, some people should be in jail for this,” Obasanjo added. He also stated earlier this year that over $2 billion had been wasted on the refineries since the cancelled sale, with nothing to show for it.