The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo, of squandering over ₦30 billion left in the state’s coffers by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki, barely two weeks after taking office. The governor allegedly used the funds to compensate “godfathers” who played a role in his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, made this accusation at a press conference, stating that the current administration has failed to pay the state’s civil and public workers their November salaries, contrary to the record set by the previous PDP-led government under Governor Godwin Obaseki, where salaries were paid on or before the 26th of every month.
Aziegbemi also claimed that the APC-led government in the state has, within two weeks, procured over ₦5 billion worth of vehicles without a proper procurement process, creating a crisis. He alleged that the permanent secretary in the governor’s office is threatening civil servants in the central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, and is desperately trying to find ways to pass entries for over ₦2 billion in inauguration costs.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman emphasized that for eight years, the PDP-led administration paid salaries on or before the 25th of every month, while as of now, the current administration has not managed to pay November salaries, despite leaving ₦30 billion in the state coffers.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman concludes that the APC-led government has squandered the funds and shared it with their godfathers who played a role in circumventing the will of the people.
The government of Godwin Obaseki paid salaries on or before the 26th of every month, while the current government has failed to do the same, with no one receiving a credit alert for the payment of November 2024 salaries as of now.
The crisis created by the procurement of vehicles without proper procurement process has resulted in the permanent secretary in the governor’s office threatening civil servants in the central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, while desperately trying to find ways to pass entries for over ₦2 billion of inauguration costs.
