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From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, presented a budget estimate of N605 billion to the State House of Assembly for the 2025 fiscal year.
The budget is made up of N223 billion for recurrent expenditure, which represents 37 percent and N381 billion for capital expenditure, which represents 63 percent.
Presenting the budget tagged, ‘Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,’ the governor explained that it was a 25 percent increase from 2024.
He explained that the proposed bill was a product of wide consultations and that it would ensure accountability and transparency in governance for responsive service delivery to the people of Edo State.
“With gratitude to God and a great sense of responsibility, I stand before the Honourable Members in this hallowed chamber to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, which contains the revenue and expenditure proposals for the 2025 fiscal year.
“The proposed Appropriation Bill is a product of wide consultations. It will ensure accountability and transparency in governance for responsive service delivery to the people of Edo State.
“The 2025 proposed budget is designed to achieve the goals of my five-point agenda. Which are security, infrastructure, development, healthcare, food sufficiency and education.
“We have also prepared this budget appropriation with the aim of achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government. We have condensed the programmes into the State Development Plan, which will remain the basis for my administration in the year 2025,” he added.
Emphasising roads in his administration’s plan to make a huge difference in the sector, Okpebholo said: “We have appropriated N162 billion for road development across the state.
“We are aware of the importance of connecting communities with motorable roads for rapid economic growth. Driving from one senatorial district to another, and from one community to another has become very difficult in the recent past.”
He said his administration wants to correct this and improve upon the roads that make Edo State the gateway to other parts of the country, adding that his government was going to enhance the status of Benin City, the state capital from being an ancient city to a modern one.
“It was in this regard that I flagged off the construction of the iconic Ramat Park Fly-over, which will be the first of such in the state,” he explained.
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He said under education, his administration had kept the obligation to revisit the education sector and improve the deplorable condition of schools from primary, secondary to tertiary.
“We are all living witnesses to the regrettable condition of our tertiary schools in the past eight years. My administration shall be providing N500 million monthly subvention to the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to ensure its revival from the ashes over time.
“We shall ensure continuous improvement in the administration of other tertiary institutions. The sum of N48 billion is provided in the 2025 budget to accomplish this promise.”
In the area of security and community development, Okpebholo said his administration was also powered by the drive to bring about peace and harmony in all parts of the state.
“We shall put our energies to ensure hostilities between communities are resolved. My administration has recently purchased 20 patrol vehicles to assist the security personnel in their work and we plan to purchase more in the coming year. The ban on the activities of the Edo State Vigilante has been lifted.
“On healthcare, N63.9 billion has been earmarked for the 2025 fiscal year. We are currently reviewing the health sector initiatives, to ensure that health is accessible and affordable. With the commitment to increase access to quality healthcare, N1.8 billion has been set aside for health insurance.
“Agriculture plays a pivotal role in food production, as well as revenue generation and job creation. It is, therefore, the desire of this administration to strengthen the agricultural sector, particularly in the areas of farm mechanisation. We shall take special attention to the security of our farmers and ensure our farmlands are safe.
“Accordingly, N 4.5 billion has been proposed in the 2025 budget estimates for the agricultural sub-sector.”
Governor Okpebholo thanked the Speaker, Honourable members of the State House of Assembly and added that he has highlighted the major policy objectives of the 2025 budget, aimed at uplifting the socio-economic conditions of our people.
“Let me once again renew my deep appreciation to this Honourable House for the cooperation and support extended to this administration since inception.
“I want to sincerely appreciate President Bola Tinubu for his forthright leadership as well as the timely intervention in our state, road construction, education, workers’ welfare and a whole lot more.”
The speaker of EDHA, Blessing Agbebaku, thanked the Governor for the presentation and assured him that the House would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure speedy passage of the Bill.
“I urge all MDAs and Ministries to provide the necessary documents to ensure speedy passage of the budget. We will work with you, your Excellency, to make sure Edo people enjoy the dividends of democracy,” Agbebaku assured.
