Outrage Over Health, Luxury Spending in Ekiti 2026 Budget
Outrage Over Health, Luxury Spending in Ekiti 2026 Budget
The Ekiti State 2026 budget has ignited a fierce debate over fiscal priorities as the state which serves 3.5 million residents has allocated a paltry ₦68 million for primary healthcare capital projects.
This meager allocation in frontline infrastructure has left many questioning the government’s commitment to the wellbeing of its most vulnerable citizens.
Public frustration deepened with news that the state’s Teaching Hospital plans to spend nearly ₦30 million on just five vehicles. Critics argue that such high administrative costs are difficult to justify while rural clinics remain underfunded.
The decision to prioritize logistics over life-saving equipment has become a central point of contention for local health advocates.
The disparity is most visible in the legislative budget, where 26 lawmakers are to receive ₦1.2 billion for new cars and office furniture. This massive allocation for the comfort of a few officials dwarfs the entire capital budget for primary health.
The contrast highlights a perceived imbalance in how taxpayer money is distributed across the state.
Financial analysts have condemned the figures as “insensitive,” noting that the health allocation amounts to less than ₦20 per citizen. Experts warn that this funding gap will worsen the state of rural facilities already struggling with inflation.
The budget is being cited by civil society groups as a failure to address the most urgent needs of the populace.
Citizens have taken to social media and radio to demand an immediate budget revision. Many are calling for funds to be vired from luxury procurements toward essential medicines and clinic rehabilitations. This outcry reflects a growing frustration with a governance style that appears to favour official perks over public wellbeing.
The Ekiti State Government now faces intense pressure to defend these spending choices. With the health sector in dire straits, the optics of billion-naira furniture deals have created a significant trust gap.
Whether the administration will reallocate funds to bridge these glaring gaps remains the defining question of this fiscal cycle.
