Oyebanji’s Government by open books
A preview of legend and milestones in Ekiti
By Segun Dipe
When Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO, assumed office in October 2022, he pitched his mandate as “Continuity for Shared Prosperity.” Three years getting to four, that continuity shows up less in talking and more in systems. Accountability has been institutionalized. Through budget town halls, merit-based recruitment, TSA enforcement, and audit independence, Ekiti has shifted from politics-as-usual to rules-based, data-driven governance.
1. Fiscal Transparency: Setting the national benchmark
Ekiti now defines fiscal openness in Nigeria.
BudgIT’s States Fiscal Transparency League placed Ekiti at 100/100 in Q4 2024 and kept it top through all four quarters of 2025, with a perfect 39 points in Q4 2025. The ranking credited institutionalized disclosure, quarterly Budget Implementation Reports, audited statements, and a functional E-Procurement Portal.
At the subnational level, BudgIT and Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative ranked Ekiti 1st for LGA budget transparency and audit efficacy. The state publishes individual 2026 budgets for all 16 LGAs and 22 LCDAs — each with signed PDFs, town hall minutes, and NCOA Excel templates. Only 10 states nationwide meet that standard.
ICIR’s 2025 half-year review added another layer: Ekiti ranked 3rd nationally with 41.8% budget performance, reflecting discipline in execution.
BAO’s refrain is simple: “We run an open book. No project executed so far has been funded with loans.”
2. Institutional Reform: Codifying the rules
BAO anchored governance on law, not discretion. Since 2024 he has signed the Revenue Administration Law 2025, Regulation Approval Law 2024, Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law 2024, Bureau of Asset Management Law 2024, and Local Content Law 2024. The Revenue Law domesticates the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, making Ekiti the first state to do so.
Implementation followed. Manual billing and cash transactions were abolished for a fully electronic payment and receipting system to block leakages. Double taxation and interstate haulage fees were scrapped, with EKIRS recognized as the sole collector.
The ₦415.57 billion 2026 “Budget of Sustainable Governance” was drafted after town halls across the three senatorial districts. To track delivery, the Ekiti Dashboard/SPMS now monitors 600+ projects live at http://spms.ek.gov.ng.
3. Civil Service & Local Government: Restoring dignity
Systems fail without a motivated bureaucracy, so BAO focused there. Since 2022, government has paid ₦7.4 billion in gratuity, ₦24.1 billion in pension, ₦710 million in Contributory Pension Scheme contributions, and ₦4.4 billion to LG retirees. Backlogs of gratuities and leave bonuses were cleared, and Ekiti was among the first to adopt the new minimum wage.
Appointments shifted to merit. Ten new Permanent Secretaries emerged through competitive examinations, free of political, religious, or gender bias. BAO put it plainly: “No more connections.”
Morale was reinforced with a new 34-office Ministry of Local Government complex, a 200-capacity conference hall, and a work-from-home policy of 1-3 days weekly for levels 01-17. LG capacity was boosted by restoring training funds to the LG Commission and mandating that all councils hold budget town halls with traditional rulers and community leaders, with reports submitted for Assembly oversight.
4. Judiciary & Oversight: Independence with teeth
BAO describes the judiciary as “the most sacred, conservative and apolitical arm of Government.” In 2024 he swore in five new High Court Judges and pledged full material support. Court processes are being digitized to improve transparency and speed.
Independence was also strengthened for oversight bodies. The Auditor-General’s office now has financial autonomy, the reason PLSI ranked Ekiti 1st in Subnational Audit Efficacy. The State Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee was similarly rated effective.
5. Citizen Participation: Budget from the ground up
BAO scrapped top-down budgeting. Quarterly zonal engagements and LGA consultations now precede every budget cycle. For 2026, the governor took consultations directly to communities rather than limiting them to Ado-Ekiti. Speaker Aribasoye captured it: “Our budget process remains anchored in citizen input, shaping priorities that reflect lived realities.”
Bottom line
BAO’s first term is a record of systems, not slogans. Ekiti leads on fiscal transparency, has codified revenue and environmental laws, cleared pension arrears, tracks projects online, and budgets with citizens in the room. The “Shared Prosperity” agenda runs on accountability rails.
The Progress Mandate calls it a “quiet revolution rooted in substance over sensation.” With institutions rebuilt, the verdict rests with voters on June 20, 2026. No doubt, BAO’s resume of “I have done it right and will still do more,” will triumph over their “I haven’t done it, but try me, I can do better.”
The former is an assurance, the latter is gambling.
-Segun Dipe is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti State Chapter and Co-Director of the Media and Communications Directorate of BAO 2026 Campaign Organisation.
