Edo Assembly Inflates Governor’s 2025 Budget Proposal Amid LG Chairmen Suspension Saga

The Edo State House of Assembly has approved N676 billion for the state government’s expenditures in the 2025 fiscal year.

The development comes amidst controversy surrounding the suspension of elected local government executives by the assembly.

The House passed the budget at a plenary session on Monday, increasing the initial proposal of N605 billion presented by Governor Monday Okpebholo on December 10, 2024, by N72 billion.

The approval and passage of the budget followed the presentation of reports by the House’s Standing Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Project Monitoring. Sunday Fada, chairman of the committee, explained that the increase in the budgetary allocation was necessary to enable the governor to implement his five-point agenda.

Fada, who represents Esan Central constituency, stated that the committee approved and passed the sum for recurrent expenditure, which now stands at N225 billion, up from the N223 billion proposed by the governor. Additionally, the capital expenditure was increased from N381 billion to N451 billion.

The House Committee on Supply also scrutinized the budget estimates, approving an increase from the initial proposed sum of N605 billion to N676 billion.

Governor Okpebholo presented the 2025 budget estimates, tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” to the State House of Assembly for consideration on December 10.

The governor and the state assembly have been under the public eye over the suspension of local government Chairmen and their deputies.

The controversy began when Governor Okpebholo issued a 48-hour ultimatum, demanding that council chairmen submit their financial statements directly to him. However, the chairmen deemed the order an overreach into their financial autonomy, as defined by the Supreme Court.

Following their refusal, the governor petitioned the state assembly to suspend the chairmen, citing “gross misconduct” under Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000).