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EDO STATE, Nigeria — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has presented a proposed budget of N605bn for the 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.
The budget, which is titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” represents a 25% increase from the 2024 budget.
Okpebholo while speaking before the lawmakers said: “The proposed Appropriation Bill is N605bn, out of which N223bn will be dedicated to recurrent expenditure, while the remaining N381bn, which represents 63%, will go into capital projects.
“This budget is a product of wide consultations and will ensure accountability and transparency in governance for responsive service delivery to the people of Edo State.”
The governor highlighted that the budget proposal reflected his five-point agenda of Security, Infrastructure Development, Healthcare, Food Sufficiency, and Education while integrating the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking on infrastructure, Okpebholo said: “We have appropriated N162bn 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. My administration wants to correct this.”
He said plans were underways to enhance Benin City’s status from an ancient city to a modern one, citing the Ramat Park Flyover as a key project.
“It was in this regard that I flagged off the construction of the iconic Ramat Park flyover, which will be the first of such in the state,” he said.
On education, Okpebholo stated: “We are all living witnesses to the regrettable condition of our tertiary schools in the past eight years. My administration shall be providing N500m monthly subvention to the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, to ensure its revival from the ashes over time. The sum of N48bn is provided in the 2025 budget to accomplish this promise.”
In the healthcare sector, he said: “N63.9bn 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 increasing access to quality healthcare, N1.8bn has been set aside for Health Insurance.”
On agriculture, the governor said: “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. Accordingly, the sum of N4.5bn has been proposed in the 2025 budget estimates for the agricultural sub-sector.
“We shall put our energies into ensuring hostilities between communities are resolved. My administration has recently purchased 20 patrol vehicles to assist 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.”
Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the state House of Assembly for their support and to President Bola Tinubu for his contributions.
Reacting to the proposal, the Edo State House of Assembly speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, hailed Okpebholo’s foresight and pledged full support.
“We will work with you, Your Excellency, to make sure Edo people enjoy the dividends of democracy. I urge all MDAs to provide the necessary documents to ensure the speedy passage of the budget,” he said.
