Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has issued a stern warning to his commissioners and government agencies, urging them to halt unnecessary spending on unproductive workshops, seminars, and conferences.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while commissioning motorcycles and other resources at an event organized by the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS), Oyebanji expressed frustration over what he described as reckless financial mismanagement.
He criticized certain Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for prioritizing frivolous expenses over meaningful projects that could improve the lives of citizens.
“I keep seeing requests from MDAs for dubious workshops, seminars, and conferences—purely as a means to drain government funds. Some of these requests come through commissioners, and though I approve a few, my heart bleeds,” Oyebanji said.
The governor questioned why civil servants, after receiving salaries and minimum wage, would expect the state to fund their trips for conferences that contribute little to Ekiti’s development.
“I don’t understand why civil servants feel entitled to government sponsorship for association conferences. They claim it’s tradition, but we must rethink these wasteful habits. You are the ones generating the money—if you waste it, what happens to the people who need it most?” he asked.
He further commended the Chairman of EKIRS, Olaniran Olatona, for his commitment to boosting the state’s revenue and called for stricter measures to block financial leakages within the civil service.
Olatona, while speaking with journalists, emphasized that revenue generation is the “lifeblood of Ekiti,” and urged underperforming ministries to adopt digital solutions and strategic measures to improve their contributions.
As a token of encouragement, motorcycles and other incentives were awarded to the top-performing MDAs, including the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Lands Services, and Ministry of Trade and Investment, among others.
Governor Oyebanji’s crackdown on wasteful government spending signals a renewed focus on accountability and fiscal discipline in Ekiti State.
