Financial Autonomy Amendment: Constituency Project Funds Were Diverted — Okpebholo

By Arit Mbeh

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has explained his decision to support amendments to the financial autonomy laws governing the state House of Assembly and Judiciary, saying the changes were necessary to strengthen accountability and prevent public funds from being mismanaged.

Okpebholo said the amendments were designed to ensure that government funds, particularly those allocated for constituency projects, were properly accounted for and used for the benefit of the people.

The governor spoke 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.

He alleged that despite funds being allocated for constituency projects, no such project had been executed since September 2025.

According to him, the House of Assembly, as one of the three independent arms of government, has the responsibility to appropriate funds but should not directly execute projects, a function constitutionally assigned to the Executive.

“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,” he said.

Okpebholo explained that under the amended law, constituency projects would be domiciled in the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, which would be responsible for their implementation and monitoring.

He said lawmakers would retain their power to appropriate funds for constituency projects, but the projects would be executed by the appropriate government agencies in accordance 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,” the governor said.

The governor also appealed to the traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the benefits of the reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and encourage continued support for the Federal Government.

He said the reforms had increased the resources available to Edo State for the execution of development projects.

“You are the ones who speak 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 due to Mr. President’s reforms, and we must ensure we sustain them through our votes,” Okpebholo said.

Earlier, the Onojie of Ugboha, His Royal Highness Ukata Odigie, said the traditional rulers visited the Government House to appreciate the governor for his support for their son, Hon. Sunny Ojiezele, who currently serves as Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Odigie also commended the governor for what he described as the administration’s development projects across the state, particularly the redevelopment of Ramat Park, which he described as a bold statement of Okpebholo’s vision for Edo State.