Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has defended his administration’s decision to sack local government chairmen across the state, alleging that they diverted over ₦83 billion in allocations within a year.
Speaking in Benin City during a courtesy visit from Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, and other council leaders, Okpebholo disclosed that the 18 local government councils received unprecedented monthly allocations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to the governor, the councils’ monthly allocation rose from ₦3.5 billion before Tinubu’s tenure to ₦6.5 billion between January and September 2024 and further to over ₦8 billion from October to December.
“Before Tinubu’s administration, Edo State was receiving ₦3.5 billion monthly as local government allocation, but today, local governments in Edo State are receiving over ₦8 billion monthly. This is not state allocation. Yet, there is little to show for it,” Okpebholo said.
The governor accused the removed chairmen of gross mismanagement, alleging they withdrew ₦800 million monthly from local government accounts for personal use while schools and infrastructure in their jurisdictions were neglected.
“These chairmen had the boldness to remove ₦800 million monthly from local government accounts while our schools suffered without good classrooms, teachers, and basic infrastructure,” Okpebholo stated.
He commended President Tinubu for increasing local government allocations, emphasizing that the move was aimed at grassroots development. However, he lamented that the resources were squandered, leading to the suspension of the chairmen.
“We are here to correct the wrongs. My administration will ensure that the funds are used to promote development and align with President Tinubu’s vision for grassroots empowerment,” he added.