Okpebholo explains amendment of Assembly Financial Auutonomy legislation

… Says no constituency project has been executed since September 2025

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has said the recent amendment of the Financial Autonomy Law of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Judicial Autonomy Law was aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and due process in the management of state funds.

The governor stated this on Monday when he received 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.

He said the amendments were necessary to prevent the people from being shortchanged, adding that no constituency project had been executed since September 2025 despite funds being allocated for such projects.

According to him, the State House of Assembly is responsible for appropriating funds and cannot perform the functions of the Executive by directly executing projects.

“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.

“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 said the amended law would ensure that constituency projects were domiciled in relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), allowing the projects to be properly monitored and implemented.

At the same time he said lawmakers would continue to appropriate funds for constituency projects, while the relevant MDAs would be responsible for their execution in line with 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.

“These are the things we are trying to correct, and thank God the members understand it and are insisting that their money is for the people and must follow due process,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo urged the traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the need to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the Federal Government’s reforms had increased the funds available for development projects in Edo State.

“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.

“You are the ones who talk to the common man in your communities. You know everybody, and they listen to you. I want you to please take this message home and let the people know that the promise to Mr. President is for the benefit of the state.

“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,” the governor said.

Spokesperson for the traditional rulers and Onojie of Ugboha, His Royal Highness Ukata Odigie, said the delegation was at the Government House to thank the governor for his support for their son, Hon. Sunny Ojiezele, who is now the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.

HRH Odigie also commended the governor for the various projects across the state, describing the redevelopment of Ramat Park as a bold statement of the administration’s vision for Edo State.

The governor also received the spouses of members of the Edo State House of Assembly, who visited the Government House to felicitate with him on his birthday.