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Okpebholo Tables N605bn 2025 Budget Before Assembly
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has tabled a budget estimate of N605 billion for the 2025 fiscal year before the Edo State House of Assembly.
Gov Okpebholo made the presentation on Tuesday, at the House of Assembly Chambers, Benin City.
Titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo”, Gov Okpebholo asserted that the proposed budget reflects a 25 percent increase from the 2024 budget.
According to Gov Okpebholo, N223 billion, or 37 percent of the total N605 billion budget, would be dedicated to recurrent expenditure. The remaining N381 billion, which represents 63 percent, had been earmarked for capital projects, he added.
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In his words, “This budget is a product of extensive consultations and embodies my administration’s commitment to achieving its five-point agenda: security, infrastructural development, healthcare, food sufficiency, and education.”
Gov Okpebholo emphasised his administration’s focus on road infrastructure, with N162 billion earmarked for road development across the state.
“We are aware of the critical need to connect communities with motorable roads for rapid economic growth. The construction of the iconic Ramat Park fly-over, the first of its kind in the state, marks a significant step towards transforming Benin City from an ancient city into a modern one,” he said.
Under education, Gov Okpebholo highlighted the need for improvements across all levels, from primary to tertiary.
“We are committed to revisiting the deplorable condition of our tertiary schools. To support Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, N500 million monthly subvention has been earmarked for 2025 to ensure its revival and continuous improvement in other tertiary institutions,” he added.
On security, he outlined plans to foster peace and harmony within the state.
“My administration has procured 20 patrol vehicles to assist security personnel in their duties, with plans to acquire more in the coming year. The ban on the Edo State Vigilante has been lifted, reflecting our commitment to community safety,” he stated.
Gov Okpebholo also addressed healthcare, allocating N63.9 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to enhance accessibility and affordability of health services.
“A significant N1.8 billion is dedicated to Health Insurance, reinforcing our commitment to improving healthcare access,” he said.
Gov Okpebholo noted the pivotal role of agriculture in job creation, food production, and revenue generation.
“A sum of N4.5 billion has been proposed for the agricultural sub-sector in the 2025 budget estimate to strengthen farm mechanization and ensure the safety of our farmlands,” he said.
Courting the lawmakers, Gov Okpebholo thanked the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and members of the state House of Assembly for their cooperation and support.
“This budget represents not just a financial plan but a vision for a better Edo State. I also extend my appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and timely interventions in various sectors,” he concluded.
On his part, Hon. Agbebaku, assured the Gov Okpebholo of the house’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the speedy passage of the bill.
Hon Agbebaku said, “We will collaborate with your Excellency to ensure that the people of Edo enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
The House of Representatives has intensified efforts to ensure financial transparency and regulatory compliance by directing the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Agency (ICRC), Nigeria Sugar Development Commission (NSDC), and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to submit detailed budget performance reports.
The directive was issued on Tuesday during an interactive session of the House Committee on Finance, chaired by Hon. James Faleke, in Abuja.
The session aimed to assess the agencies’ adherence to extant financial laws.
Highlighting the concerns, Hon. Faleke instructed the ICRC to provide a comprehensive list of all concessionaires and fees collected since 2008.
READ ALSO: Gov Okpebholo Stammers While Presenting N605bn Edo Budget[VIDEO]
This followed a presentation by Shehu Danmusa, the agency’s Director of Infrastructure, which was criticized for lacking a clear breakdown of revenue and expenditure.
Faleke stressed the need for accurate and transparent financial reporting in line with standard accounting practices.
Similarly, NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba, presented the agency’s income and expenditure for 2023 and 2024.
He disclosed that the commission’s primary revenue source was the electricity market but faced further scrutiny from the lawmakers.
The committee stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in financial management, urging all agencies to submit the requested details promptly for thorough evaluation.
During the presentation of the N605 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year at the Edo State House of Assembly, Governor Monday Okpebholo experienced a moment of hesitation that caught the attention of those in attendance.
As he began to outline the figures, he appeared to struggle with articulating the exact numbers, stammering and stumbling over the amounts allocated for various sectors. This brief but noticeable lapse seemed to momentarily disrupt the flow of his speech.
Despite the well-prepared nature of the presentation, the Governor’s difficulty in confidently calling out the figures raised murmurs among some lawmakers and attendees, who exchanged glances while others maintained a composed demeanor.
His hesitation was most evident when he addressed the significant capital expenditure of N381 billion and the recurrent expenditure of N223 billion, both critical components of the budget.
READ MORE: Okpebholo Tables N605bn 2025 Budget Before Assembly
It took him a few seconds to regain his footing, during which he paused, cleared his throat, and continued with a somewhat cautious tone.
Observers speculated whether it was the weight of the figures or the enormity of the budget’s implications that caused the Governor to falter briefly.
However, as the speech progressed, he regained his confidence, delving into the detailed allocations for road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture with renewed composure.
In a room where every word and gesture is scrutinized, the Governor’s brief struggle served as a reminder that even the most experienced leaders can have moments of nervousness under the spotlight.
Nonetheless, the focus soon returned to the substance of the budget, with its ambitious plans to transform Edo State’s infrastructure, education system, and healthcare sector.
Nine-time Nigerian league champions, Enyimba International FC of Aba, has signed former Super Eagles’ striker and 2013 AFCON winner Brown Ideye.
Biztellers reports that Ideye signed till the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Sporting Director of the ‘Nzogbu-Nzogbu Boys’ and ex-international, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, made the disclosure on Tuesday.
Ekwueme said, “The talks have been going on for a while and we completed it yesterday.
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“He will be with us until the end of the season and we believe he will bolster our team’s attack as we compete in the league and the continent.”
It was gathered that Ideye, 36, has been without a club since leaving Kuwaiti side Al Yarmouk in 2022 but he is now set to stage a return to Nigeria’s top flight, taking after former international teammates Ahmed Musa and Abdullahi Shehu who are currently playing for Kano Pillars.
The move will also mark the return of Ideye to the domestic scene 17 years after he left Ocean Boys in 2006.
Ideye was on the verge of joining former league champions Rivers United in October but the move collapsed.
Enyimba have two matches crucial to their domestic and continental aspirations in the next five days as they play Sunshine Stars on Wednesday in a rescheduled NPFL game before travelling to Maputo, Mozambique for their third group game in the CAF Confederation Cup against Black Bulls.
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