The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to publicly disclose the total cost of the new government secretariat project underway within the Government House premises in Ilorin, describing the initiative as a misplaced priority.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party alleged that the administration’s refusal to reveal the contract sum raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability. The PDP claimed the project, which the government refers to as “new offices,” appears to serve the interests of the governor and his appointees more than those of the people of Kwara.
The party further linked the development to a recent statement by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, which criticized certain state governors for excessive spending on luxury government buildings at the expense of investments in human capital and economic development. The PDP said Governor Abdulrazaq, as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, should be setting a standard for responsible governance, not initiating projects that have attracted international condemnation.
“The Governor’s silence on the financial details of the project only strengthens public suspicion that it may serve as a conduit for misappropriating public funds,” the statement said.
The PDP also questioned the choice of contractor for the one-storey structure, suggesting the project could have been executed by qualified local firms rather than politically connected outsiders. According to the party, this move undermines local economic participation and contradicts the administration’s earlier promises under the “Otoge” reform agenda.
Rejecting the government’s explanation that the project is not a new Government House but “new offices,” the PDP argued that the semantics do not address the core issue of financial accountability. The party demanded full disclosure of the contract sum and justification for the project, especially at a time when citizens are grappling with poor infrastructure in schools, hospitals, roads, and rising insecurity.
“The people of Kwara, whose tax funds are being spent, deserve to know how much is being allocated to this project,” the statement concluded.
