Edo assembly looks at N77.5bn extra budget proposal

The Edo State House of Assembly has sent the state’s 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill to its Committee on Appropriation and Project Monitoring. This bill proposes N70 billion for roads and N7.5 billion for electricity.

The bill passed the second reading during the plenary on Tuesday. This followed a request from Governor Monday Okpebholo for the assembly to look at the proposed supplementary budget.

During the debate, the Majority Leader, Sunday Ojezele, explained that the bill aims to move funds from areas that are not well used to sectors that need more money for better project delivery.

Jonathan Ibhamawu, who represents Esan West, supported the bill. He confirmed that it includes N70 billion for road projects and N7.5 billion for electricity.

Natasha Osawaru from Egor also backed the bill. She said the proposed funds would help meet the needs of people across the 18 local government areas in the state. She added that the allocations would focus on important areas like education and security.

Maria Edeko from Esan North-East II agreed. She called the bill a response to the people's needs.

After discussions, the House sent the bill to the committee on appropriation and project monitoring for further review. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the committee is expected to give feedback to the House within two weeks.

In a separate matter, the House approved more special advisers at both the state and local government levels. This followed a request from the governor for more appointments to improve administration.

The majority leader, who led the discussion, said the state government needs extra help to run its affairs well. Sunday Aghedo, who represents Ovia South-West, noted that each council chairman used to have one special adviser.

He pointed out that the new request is for five extra advisers in each council.

Also during Tuesday’s plenary, the House passed a bill to repeal the Bendel State Post-Primary Education Edict of 1988. This bill aims to set up the Senior Secondary Education Board.

The bill was discussed after the House moved into a Committee of the Whole to look at its details. After the review, the Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, instructed that a clean copy of the bill be sent to the governor for approval.

The House then adjourned plenary until Wednesday.