Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has openly criticized Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s proposed expenditure of ₦63 billion for the renovation of the state’s government house, describing it as a glaring misallocation of public resources.
His comments were made during a detailed interview on Symfoni TV, where he questioned the rationale behind committing such an enormous sum to a single government project.
Shittu asked pointedly, “Who is asking you to use ₦63 billion of Oyo State money to renovate?” challenging both the necessity of the project and the governor’s justification for the spending.
He argued that this level of expenditure is difficult to reconcile with the pressing needs of ordinary citizens, who continue to face challenges in areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
According to Shittu, prioritizing the renovation of a government residence over investments in essential public services signals misplaced priorities and a governance style driven more by political symbolism than the welfare of the populace.
He emphasized that public funds should be directed toward projects that tangibly reduce poverty, improve living standards, and create economic opportunities for residents.
Drawing on his decades of experience in Nigerian politics, Shittu stressed the importance of fiscal discipline and ethical stewardship of state resources.
He argued that lavish spending on government buildings undermines citizens’ trust and sets a worrying precedent for governance in the country. Shittu highlighted that leadership should be measured not by grandiose construction projects, but by the extent to which it improves the daily lives of ordinary people.
The former minister also called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of state finances.
He contended that a government that fails to align its expenditures with citizens’ immediate needs risks alienating the public and weakening the social contract between the state and its people.
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