Edo State Governor, Monday Okphebolo, has disclosed that the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, allocated over N8 billion monthly to the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State for the month of December 2024 alone.
According to the Governor, who cited data from the State Accountant-General’s office, the Councils received a steady amount of more than N6.5 billion monthly between January and September 2024.
The allocation surged significantly to more than N8 billion per month from October to December, culminating in a total of over N83 billion for the year.
Governor Okphebolo, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), shared the update during a visit by the Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, along with other councillors and local party leaders, to the Governor’s office in Benin City.
In his address, the Governor commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to advancing grassroots development. However, he expressed concerns about what he termed the alleged mismanagement of these funds by some elected officials in the region.
“Under the previous administration, Edo State was receiving about N3.5 billion monthly in Local Government allocations,” Governor Okphebolo noted.
“Today, thanks to President Tinubu, this amount has more than doubled to over N8 billion monthly. This is a remarkable achievement in federal allocation.”
He went on to praise President Tinubu’s bold initiatives, particularly the fuel subsidy removal, which he said had resulted in visible benefits for the people.
“None of the past presidents, from Olusegun Obasanjo to Muhammadu Buhari, dared to remove the fuel subsidy, but President Tinubu took this bold step, and the dividends are now being enjoyed by Nigerians,” Okphebolo remarked.
Despite his praise for the federal government’s efforts, the Governor did not hold back his criticism of the local government chairmen, particularly those suspended for alleged financial mismanagement.
“For over a year, these chairmen have failed to make any significant impact, while other states have utilized their resources efficiently.
Some have even removed as much as N800 million monthly from Local Government accounts, while our schools and infrastructure continue to suffer,” he lamented.
In his call for reform, Okphebolo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making positive changes in Edo State. “We are here to correct the wrongs and ensure that Edo State moves forward. No individual will hold us back.
My administration is ready to cooperate, provided that everyone works in line with President Tinubu’s vision for local government development, bringing progress to the grassroots. Agriculture will be a major focus for us as we aim to transform the region,” he declared.
Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, the Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, expressed his appreciation for the Governor’s dedication to local governance.
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“We are fully committed to working with the Okphebolo administration as governance is moving closer to the grassroots. We are in this together, and we will support your efforts for the success and development of the State,” Oshionogue said.
Other key leaders from Akoko-Edo, including Rt. Hon. Kabiru Ajoto, former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, and Hon. Monday Ose, Chairman of the Akoko-Edo APC, also lauded the Governor’s developmental strides.
They particularly highlighted the ongoing construction of the Auchi-Ibilo road and the appointment of one of their own as Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS). They urged the Governor to continue with these efforts and bring further development to the region.
The meeting closed with an emphasis on continued collaboration between the state government and local leaders to accelerate growth and ensure that Edo’s vast potential is fully realized.
