The Edo State Government has accused embattled 18 local government council chairmen in the state of squandering over N83 billion in 12 months.
The Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, revealed that the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, released over N8 billion as monthly allocations to the 18 Local Government Councils in the State in December alone.
The revelations were contained in a statement by Mr Monday Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Thursday.
He said, “Between January and September 2024, the 18 Local Government Councils, according to the office of the State Accountant-General, got over N6.5 billion monthly as allocations”, adding that they also received over N8 billion monthly from the Federation Account.
“Cumulatively, the 18 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Local Government Councils in one year, earned over N83 billion as monthly allocations.” the government said.
Speaking while receiving the Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue and Councillors, alongside party leaders who were on a courtesy visit to his office, in Benin City, the governor declared that President Tinubu had done so much to promote development at the grassroots level, but lamented that those elected to provide services, squander the resources.
Governor Okpebholo further revealed: “Before Bola Ahmed TinuTinubu’s administration, Edo State was receiving N3.5 billion monthly as Local Government allocation, but today, Local Governments in Edo State are receiving over N8 billion monthly. This is not State allocation.”
He disclosed that the Nigerian president was working very hard to ensure development gets to the grassroots and the people enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance.
Hear him: “Since the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo to Muhammadu Buhari, none had the boldness to remove fuel subsidy, but Tinubu came and did it and the people are enjoying the dividends of what he has done.
“Thank you for coming here to visit as relationships matter to me, and you have come to establish it. Akoko-Edo is dear to me, and you have gotten more appointments than others.”
Lamenting the misconduct of the suspended Local Government Chairmen, Okpebholo said: “The Chairmen had been in office for the past one year and they have nothing to show for it while other States are utilizing their resources well for the people.
“These Chairmen had the boldness to remove N800 million monthly from Local Government accounts while our schools suffered without good classrooms, teachers and other infrastructure.
“We are here to correct the wrongs as Edo State must move forward, and no individual will draw us back. My administration is set and ready to cooperate with you, provided you work in line with Mr President’s plan for Local Government Councils by ensuring development gets to the grassroots.
“We will invest so much in agriculture. We will visit you to ensure we collaborate and make things work.”
Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue thanked Governor Okpebholo for his interest in ensuring that those at the grassroots enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance, stressing that the autonomy is for the grassroots to get the dividends of democracy, not for one man to take it all.
He said: “We have agreed to work with the Okpebholo administration because governance is now moving to the grassroots. We will work with you to ensure you succeed and the State develops.”
Other Leaders from Akoko Edo, including the former speaker, EDHA, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Ajoto, and Akoko Edo APC Chairman, Hon. Monday Ose, thanked Governor Okpebholo for his developmental strides in Edo State, particularly the ongoing construction works on the Auchi-Ibilo road and the appointment of one of their own as Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) and appealed to him for more.
