by Tobore Jerome

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, 10th December, 2024, presented the budget proposal of N605.7 billion for the year 2025 to the state House of Assembly.

The budget, which the governor christened “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo”, represents a 25 per cent increase over the 2024 budget.

Governor Okpebholo, while speaking during the presentation of the 2025 budget proposal, said the budget is aimed at fulfilling his administration’s five points agenda, which are Security, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Food Sufficiency, and Education.

The governor stated that the recurrent expenditure is estimated at N223 billion, accounting for 37 per cent of the budget, while capital expenditure is projected at N381 billion, making up 63 per cent.

The sectoral allocations of the budget include N162 billion for road construction across the state, N48 billion for education, N63.9 billion for healthcare, N4.5 billion for agriculture, and N1.8 billion for health insurance.

However, instead of the delusional failed oppositions in the state, led by the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) whose centre can no longer hold, to focus on the content of the budget and the impact it will have on the lives of Edo people, and the developmental shape the state will take when the budget is finally passed into law by the state House of Assembly and properly implemented by the state government, they were busy spreading the little gaffe by Governor Okpebholo, which is just a human error that anybody could easily make.

The failed delusional PDP, who are yet to recover from the heavy defeat they suffered at the September 21 governorship polls from the hands of ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), should be reminded that the immediate past administration led by former Governor Godwin Obaseki presented and implemented several budgets which various stakeholders have described as MOU budgets that never had any positive bearing on the lives of the people of Edo State. Rather, the budgets were elitist and meant only to favour leaders of the PDP and their associates at the detriment of Edo people.

Pundits, stakeholders and Edolites across all strata have commended Governor Okpebholo for keeping to his promise by presenting a budget proposal that actually addresses the core needs of Edo people down to the last man.

Recall that Governor Okpebholo during the campaigns a few months ago promised to make Edo State a construction site, and the governor has started right from the very first day he took office as the Executive Governor of Edo State.

Governor Okpebholo’s budget proposal has also demonstrated commitment to the key areas of his administration’s five points agenda, looking at the allocations to several areas he promised Edo people that he would address as the governor of the state.

It is therefore imperative for every Edo son and daughter, both at home and in the diaspora, to support the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo to deliver on his mandate and the promises he made to Edo people, as the governor has already started on a positive note.