Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has strongly criticized Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over the reported ₦63 billion allocated for the renovation of the Government House in Ibadan.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Falana described the project as a “gross misplacement of priority”, especially at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, poor infrastructure, and declining public services.
“It is unconscionable for any state government to commit such an outrageous amount to renovating a Government House while millions of citizens are living in poverty,” Falana said.
He further argued that the funds should instead be directed toward critical sectors such as education, healthcare, security, and job creation. According to him, “Governance is about improving the welfare of the people, not lavishing public funds on luxuries for political office holders.”
The criticism comes amid growing public outcry and debates across social media, with many questioning the rationale behind spending such a hefty sum on renovation rather than addressing pressing developmental needs in the state.
While the Oyo State Government has yet to issue a detailed breakdown of the project, officials have defended it as necessary to upgrade the facility’s infrastructure and security, claiming the cost covers long-term modernization efforts.
Falana, however, maintained that the state government must be more transparent and accountable in its use of public resources, warning that wasteful spending could worsen public distrust in governance.
“Nigeria does not have a revenue problem. What we have is a reckless spending problem,” Falana added.
Civic groups and opposition politicians in the state have also joined calls for the government to review the project and rechannel the funds to more urgent development priorities.