By Ivy Adodo-Ebojele
The budget proposal and appropriation bill for 2025 in Edo State passed its second reading in the Edo State House of Assembly today.
In introducing the bill, the minority leader of the House, Hon. Eric Okaka, who represents Owan East Constituency, highlighted that the bill has received public acclaim for addressing the deplorable condition of several roads in Edo State. He stated, “The budget aims to remedy many deficiencies in our road infrastructure in Edo State.” To this end, the proactive Governor has allocated a total of One Hundred and Sixty-Two Billion Naira (₦162,000,000,000) for road infrastructure development in the state for 2025.
Hon. Emmakhu Isibor Adeh, representing Esan North East 1 Constituency, also supported the minority leader, noting that the commendable “Renewed Hope” budget includes a significant increase in the monthly subvention for the highly prestigious Ambrose Ali University, raising it from Forty-One Million Naira (₦41,000,000) to Five Hundred Million Naira (₦500,000,000).
Other members who expressed their strong support for the bill included Hon. Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West Constituency), Hon. Kingsley Ugabi (Etsako East Constituency), Hon. Richard Edosa (Oredo West Constituency), and Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu (Esan West Constituency).
Also at plenary, the House received three letters from the Executive Governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, requesting the consideration and confirmation of:
1. Four members of the Edo State Sports Commission.
2. Four members of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Service.
3. Four members of the Edo State Local Government Commission.
The Speaker Rt Hon. Blessing Agbebaku referred the confirmation of members for these three commissions to the Committee on Rules and Business for consideration.
The House also received and commenced deliberations on a report presented by the House Standing Committee on Public Petitions regarding the continuous denial of access to Johannes Owen Martins, the biological son of Mrs. Sandra Bama Agho Martins. The consideration of this petition was thereafter postponed to a later date for the Executive Section of Members.
The House later adjourned plenary to Monday, December 16, 2024, at 10:00 AM.
