Ekiti State Government Awards Contracts Worth N511 Million to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies
The Ekiti State government has been found to have awarded contracts worth N511.5 million to permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies in December 2024.
This move has raised eyebrows, as it appears to contravene the state’s Bureau of Public Procurement law, which stipulates that contracting should be done through open competitive bidding.
Some of the contracts awarded include:
- N135 million for the construction of a seminar hall, office extension, security house, and fencing at the office of the auditor general, awarded to a permanent secretary on December 23, 2024.
- N79.6 million for dredging work at GRA/NTA/Satelite/Abekoko, awarded to the general manager of the State Environmental Protection Agency on December 11, 2024.
- N26.6 million for the renovation of the government house main entrance gate and attached offices in Ado-Ekiti, awarded to a permanent secretary on December 10, 2024.
- N155.6 million for the purchase of a JAC Sunray ambulance and a Scania truck head with an 11,000-liter capacity water tanker, awarded to a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transportation on December 9, 2024.
Experts have criticized the government’s actions, stating that it is a clear aberration of the law.
The Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement law prohibits persons involved in the procurement process from bidding for contracts or cooperating with bidders.
This is not the first time the Ekiti State government has been accused of abusing procurement laws. In July and August 2024, the government awarded contracts worth N1.1 billion to permanent secretaries and director-generals.
