The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has publicly criticized members of the Edo State House of Assembly, accusing them of failing to execute any constituency projects since September 2025 despite continuous fund allocations.
He made this disclosure while receiving traditional rulers from Esan South East Local Government Area, led by the Onojie of Ubiaja, His Royal Highness Curtis Iredia Eidinojie I, at the Government House in Benin City.
Addressing the traditional rulers, Governor Okpebholo emphasized that the recent amendments to the Financial and Judicial Autonomy Laws of the state were necessary to promote transparency, accountability, and proper due process.
Okpebholo explained that these legislative changes were designed to prevent public funds from being mismanaged and to ensure that the citizens of Edo State are not shortchanged.
Highlighting the constitutional boundaries of governance, the governor pointed out that the House of Assembly is strictly responsible for appropriating funds and should not perform executive functions by directly executing projects.
He noted that despite substantial financial allocations flowing to the legislative arm, lawmakers have failed to deliver tangible constituency projects over the past year.
Under the newly amended framework, future constituency projects will now be domiciled within relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) rather than being handled by individuals.
He also expressed optimism that this shift will ensure proper monitoring, strict adherence to project specifications, and guarantee that public funds genuinely serve the people.
“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,” according to the State Governor.
