The Oyo State government’s recent approval of ₦63.4 billion for the renovation and upgrade of the State Government House has stirred concern, as citizens and civil society groups question the prioritisation of public funds amid growing infrastructural and social deficits.
The expenditure, approved on Wednesday during the State Executive Council meeting, is equivalent to 44.3% of Oyo’s projected ₦143.1 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the year 2025.
Announcing the decision, Oyo State’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, defended the allocation, describing the condition of the Government House as “embarrassing” and “unbefitting for a sitting governor.”
“For the past six years, both the governor and his deputy have lived in their private residences due to the poor state of the Government House. This renovation is long overdue,” Oyelade stated.
However, a breakdown of the 2025 approved budget paints a stark contrast. The Ministry of Health received ₦59.4 billion — almost ₦4 billion less than the cost of renovating one government building.
Analysts and commentators argue that the amount allocated for the renovation could serve more pressing needs. For instance:
- With ₦5 million earmarked per borehole, the same amount could drill approximately 12,680 boreholes across the state.
- At ₦2 million per toilet facility, it could fund the construction of over 31,700 toilets.
- Given the ₦822 million allocated for rehabilitating 20 health centres, the ₦63.4 billion could rehabilitate approximately 1,540 centres at that unit cost.
These statistics are particularly damning when viewed against poverty data. According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Multidimensional Poverty Index, 57% of households in Oyo lack access to clean drinking water, and 79% do not have adequate sanitary facilities.
“This is not just a financial decision, it’s a moral one,” said Bolanle Adebayo, a public health advocate based in Ibadan. “Renovating a Government House while the majority lack access to basic health services and sanitation is unconscionable.”
The contrast is further highlighted by the state’s ₦3.5 billion allocation for classroom construction under SUBEB — 18 times less than the amount dedicated to the Government House project.
Oyo also plans to spend ₦37.8 billion on debt servicing in 2025. When combined with the ₦63.4 billion for renovation, a total of ₦101.2 billion — or over 70% of the state’s IGR — is already committed to just two budget items, leaving limited funds for other sectors.
Public reaction has been swift on social media, with hashtags like #FixHospitalsNotHouses and #OyoPriorities trending. Critics argue that even if the renovation is necessary, the timing and size of the allocation reveal misplaced priorities.
“The optics are bad,” said Adeyinka Salako, a policy analyst. “Spending more on a residence than healthcare and education combined sends the wrong message to citizens in desperate need of basic services.”
While the state government maintains that the renovation is crucial for governance and prestige, the decision continues to fuel debate over fiscal responsibility, equity, and the urgent need to align public spending with public needs.
