… confirms nine nominees
BY KEN ABU
BENIN CITY: Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has faulted the immediate past administration’s commissioning of uncompleted projects in the state, describing the move as deceptive and unfair to Edo citizens.
Speaking during an inspection of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital and the Education Hub Complex at Iyaro, Benin City, the Governor expressed shock at the level of uncompleted work in facilities declared commissioned.
“I do not know why the previous administration commissioned this hospital when work was still ongoing. It is wrong to mislead the people with such gestures,” Okpebholo said.
He assured that his administration would complete the projects and make them fully operational before the end of the year.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, who accompanied the Governor, revealed that the hospital was barely 60 percent completed, with many of its facilities refurbished from the old structure.
At the Education Hub, the Governor also expressed disappointment over the absence of electricity, equipment, and furnishings in the building, describing the commissioning as “premature and misleading.”
The contractor handling the project, Mr. George Bou Maroon, explained that the hub was designed to centralize all education-related agencies, including SUBEB, the Ministry of Education, and the State Library Board, for improved coordination key infrastructure and ongoing development projects across the state.
Governor Okpebholo had presented the supplementary budget to the Assembly, seeking legislative approval to augment the earlier ₦675 billion budget passed in December 2024.
The new budget represents an upward review of ₦125 billion.
The passage followed the adoption of the report by the House Committee on Appropriation, presented by its chairman, Hon. Fada Egberemolen.
In his presentation, Egberemolen said the budget expansion was necessary to meet urgent fiscal and infrastructural demands, particularly in road construction, health, education, and agriculture, as the dry season, the most viable construction period approaches.
Lawmakers, in their individual submissions, commended the governor for what they described as a “people-centered fiscal intervention,” stressing that the new financial plan would fast-track ongoing capital projects and drive local economic growth.
Hon. Fada further explained that the supplementary appropriation would support strategic sectors, ensure timely completion of legacy projects, and sustain the governor’s development vision anchored on transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, the House also confirmed nine nominees for key state agencies, the Edo State Ecological Funding and Management Commission and the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission, as well as one commissioner-designate in the state executive council.
The confirmation followed the adoption of a report presented by Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, Chairman, Committee on Rules, Business, and Government House.
For the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye was confirmed as Chairman, while Elvis Uwadia, Ndidi Akhimie, and Hon. Habibat Yakubu were confirmed as members.
For the Ecological Funding and Management Commission, the House confirmed Dr. Blessing Aigbonmere as Executive Chairman; Hon. Felix Ivbade, Executive Director (Projects); Ivie Uwaifo, Executive Director (Administration); and Khadijat Yusuf, Executive Director (Finance).
Also confirmed was Mr. Omoh Annabor as Commissioner in the Edo State Executive Council
