From Ebohon Joan
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has said the recent amendments to the Financial Autonomy Law of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Judicial Autonomy Law are aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and proper management of public funds.
Okpebholo stated this on Monday when he received traditional rulers from Esan South-East Local Government Area, led by the Onojie of Ubiaja, Curtis Iredia Eidinojie I, at the Government House in Benin City.
The governor, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, said the amendments were necessary to prevent public funds from being mismanaged and ensure that the people get value for money allocated to constituency projects.
He expressed concern that no constituency project had been executed since September 2025 despite funds being appropriated for such projects.
Okpebholo explained that while the House of Assembly has the responsibility to appropriate funds, the execution of projects remains the duty 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,” he said.
The governor said the new arrangement would place constituency projects under the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which would be responsible for their implementation and monitoring.
He added that lawmakers would still determine and appropriate funds for constituency projects, but the projects would be executed by the appropriate MDAs in accordance with approved specifications.
“Now, their constituency projects will be domiciled in various MDAs and, once they appropriate funds for projects, they can track them through the ministries and ensure the projects are done according to specification, not one person determining what should be done,” Okpebholo said.
He said the reforms were part of efforts to correct existing gaps and introduce checks and balances in the management of state resources.
The governor also appealed to traditional rulers to support and educate their subjects on the policies and reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the reforms of the Federal Government have increased the resources available to Edo State for the execution of development projects.
“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,” he said.
Okpebholo urged the traditional rulers to take the message of the government’s programmes back to their communities and encourage residents to support the administration.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Onojie of Ugboha, Ukata Odigie, said the delegation visited the Government House to appreciate the governor for his support for their son, Sunny Ojiezele, who currently serves as the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Odigie also praised the governor for the ongoing projects across the state, particularly the redevelopment of Ramat Park, which he described as a bold indication of the administration’s vision for Edo State.
