Pictorial: Ondo Governor Approves N8.2 Billion for 32 Luxury Cabinet Homes Amid Security Crisis, Unpaid Wages, and Only Two Commissioners Appointed
The Ondo State Government has sanctioned a staggering N8.168 billion to construct 32 four-bedroom terrace houses designed to accommodate cabinet members — averaging about N281 million per unit. This approval was made during the first State Executive Council meeting of 2025 on April 16, igniting widespread criticism from residents and analysts who question the government’s priorities amid ongoing infrastructural decay, unpaid salaries, and a worsening security situation.
According to a document from the Cabinet and Special Services Department, the contract was awarded to Abuja-based Cosgrave Investment Ltd. The construction, expected to take 18 months, aims to improve infrastructure and welfare for the state’s top officials.
Currently, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appointed only two commissioners: Olukayode Ajulo (SAN) as Attorney General and Mrs. Omowumi Isaac as Commissioner for Finance. The new residential estate, dubbed the “Terrace Presidential Building,” will be located in Akure, the state capital, and is part of the governor’s agenda to upgrade living conditions for government officials.
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The approval letter, signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, specifies conditions including contractor acceptance within 14 days and payments linked to project milestones. Oversight will be shared by the Ministries of Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing.
However, many Ondo residents argue the N8.168 billion could instead build over 200 affordable two-bedroom flats across the state—housing teachers, nurses, and civil servants, and stimulating broader community development. “Distributed across Ondo’s 18 local governments, the funds could yield 20 affordable units per LGA. That’s real transformation, not luxury homes for a yet-to-be-formed cabinet,” said one concerned resident.
The per-unit cost has raised eyebrows, especially since the state owns the land and is not acquiring new plots for the project.
Critics accuse the Aiyedatiwa administration of secrecy, highlighting the lack of transparency in key financial disclosures such as Internally Generated Revenue, FAAC allocations, and overall state spending. “This government operates like a secret cult,” said a political analyst in Akure. “Even the federal government shares revenue reports openly; Ondo citizens deserve the same.”
Public services remain in disrepair. Staff at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic have yet to receive wages, and promised salary increases remain unimplemented in many state institutions. School shuttle buses across multiple LGAs are grounded due to poor maintenance, with no visible plan for repairs.
Security is deteriorating, with Amotekun and police forces citing inadequate funding, lack of vehicles, and insufficient operational tools despite steady federal allocations and security votes. Residents question how these funds are managed. “What is the governor doing with the monthly security vote?” one asked.
Critics also note that Governor Aiyedatiwa has little tangible achievement to show. A recent empowerment program, giving 1,000 women just N35,000 each, was widely mocked. “In today’s economy, N35,000 barely covers basic food expenses. That’s not empowerment—it’s an insult,” residents said.
Calls are mounting for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the state’s finances, given the lack of transparency and limited cabinet appointments.
Further frustration stems from abandoned infrastructure projects like Oda Road, Ijoka Road, and the Onyearugbulem Flyover, all started under the previous administration. Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa has quietly begun work on a 10km Akure-Okearo Road, with no disclosed budget or timeline. A civil engineer commented, “Good projects have clear start and end dates. This secrecy raises red flags.”
Efforts to reach Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, for comments went unanswered.
Credit: SaharaReporters
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