Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has instructed the 18 local government council chairmen in the state to submit their financial statements within the next 48 hours. The directive, issued on Tuesday, requires the chairmen to submit their statements of accounts for the period from September 4, 2023, to the present day.
The council chairmen were present at the Government House in Benin City, where they paid a courtesy visit to the governor. Representing Governor Okpebholo during the visit was his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa. The chairmen, led by the Edo State chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Newman Ugiagbe, expressed their support for the governor’s administration.
The governor’s directive was made clear through a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua. The statement highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in the current government.
“I have listened to you keenly, the ALGON Chairman. The Governor is a leader of all of us. Election has come and gone and we are all one family. The Governor has asked me to assure you that we are one family.
“He has also asked me to tell you that we will work closely together. I guess you are aware that few weeks ago, the Assets Verification Committee was constituted.
“Mr. Governor is committed to transparency and accountability in this Government and that Committee would not have the resources to go across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State.
“The Governor would want you to submit your statement of accounts from 4th of September 2023, to date, to the Assets Verification Committee within the next 48 hours (2 days), as that would help and enable the Committee do its job effectively and efficiently.
“The statement of accounts should be sent through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to Assets Verification Committee. The Governor thanks you for you time.”
