By Staff Reporter
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has explained that the recent amendment of the Edo State House of Assembly Financial Autonomy Law and the Judicial Autonomy Law was aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and due process in the management of public funds.
The governor gave the explanation on Monday when he received a delegation of traditional rulers from Esan South East Local Government Area, led by the Onojie of Ubiaja, His Royal Highness Curtis Iredia Eidinojie I, at the Government House in Benin City.
Okpebholo said the amendments were necessary to prevent public funds meant for constituency projects from being mismanaged, alleging that no constituency project had been executed in the state since September 2025 despite funds being allocated for such projects.
According to him, the State House of Assembly has the constitutional responsibility to appropriate funds, while the execution of projects remains the responsibility of the executive arm of government.
“We have three independent arms of government, and the House is to appropriate funds and not to carry out the functions of the executive by executing projects,” the governor said.
He added that funds had been allocated for constituency projects since September last year without corresponding projects being executed.
“Since last year, a lot of money was going there, but even the members were not seeing it. Since September last year, they have not carried out any constituency project, and money was going there.
“These are reasons why we cannot trust one individual with due process without checks and balances,” Okpebholo said.
The governor explained that under the amended arrangement, constituency projects would be domiciled in relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which would be responsible for their implementation and monitoring.
He said lawmakers would retain their power to appropriate funds for constituency projects but would be able to track the projects through the relevant MDAs to ensure that they were executed according to approved specifications.
“Now, their constituency projects will be domiciled in various MDAs and, once they appropriate funds for projects, they are able to track them through the ministries and ensure the projects are done according to specification, not one person determining what should be done,” he said.
Okpebholo said the reform was intended to correct existing shortcomings in the handling of public funds and ensure that money appropriated for constituency projects was ultimately used for the benefit of the people.
He also urged the traditional rulers to support and sensitise their subjects on the policies and reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he said had increased the resources available to Edo State for development.
“You know I have promised Mr. President 2.5 million votes. The people I have in mind to help me deliver it are you, the traditional rulers,” the governor said.
He appealed to the monarchs to communicate the benefits of the Federal Government’s reforms to their communities, noting that several projects being executed by his administration were made possible by increased government revenue.
“The projects I am carrying out in our communities are because of Mr. President’s reforms, and we must ensure we sustain them through our votes,” Okpebholo said.
Responding, the spokesperson for the traditional rulers and Onojie of Ugboha, His Royal Highness Ukata Odigie, said the delegation visited the Government House to appreciate the governor for his support for their son, Hon. Sunny Ojiezele, who recently became the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Odigie also commended the governor for projects being executed across the state, describing the redevelopment of Ramat Park as a bold demonstration of the administration’s vision for Edo State.
The governor also received spouses of members of the Edo State House of Assembly, who visited the Government House to felicitate with him on his birthday.
