Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, recently issued a directive ordering the immediate freeze of all state-owned bank accounts within Edo State. This order, effective from Thursday, mandates a complete suspension of any transactions from these accounts until further notice, signaling a major administrative decision.
The announcement was conveyed through a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua. In it, Governor Okpebholo urged all commercial banks operating in the state, as well as all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to comply with the directive without delay. The governor emphasized that any MDAs or civil servants who fail to comply with this order would face severe penalties, reinforcing the urgency and importance of the measure.
According to the governor, the freeze on the accounts is a preliminary step toward investigating and reconciling the state’s finances. Once this process is complete, the administration will determine further actions and decide on the next steps to ensure financial accountability.
Additionally, in another move aimed at revamping the state’s infrastructure approach, Governor Okpebholo ordered that the Ministry of Roads and Bridges be renamed back to its original designation, the Ministry of Works. This renaming reflects a shift in focus and an acknowledgment of the ministry’s broader responsibilities, beyond just roads and bridges.
Governor Okpebholo took this opportunity to critique the previous administration, led by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, for adopting the “Ministry of Roads and Bridges” title without delivering any significant road or bridge projects. According to him, this title was misleading and did not reflect the accomplishments of the past administration. The governor specifically pointed out that not even a pedestrian bridge was constructed under the previous administration, despite the grand title.
The statement reads: “All bank accounts in all the commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken out of the coffers of the government until further notice.”
“Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies must comply with this order and ensure there is full adherence without any further delays,” the statement continued, further reiterating the gravity of the directive.
“Once necessary investigations and reconciliations are concluded, the Governor will take appropriate actions and decide on the best course forward. For now, this order remains in place.”
The governor also addressed the controversial ministry name change, stating, “The infamous title was implemented during the administration of Godwin Obaseki.”
“Governor Okpebholo noted that since no bridges or substantial roads were constructed during Obaseki’s administration, maintaining such a name is illogical,” the statement further explained.
“It is ironic to label a government institution as the ‘Ministry of Roads and Bridges’ when not a single bridge, not even a pedestrian one, was built. Moving forward, we will reevaluate more actions taken by the previous administration and make additional decisions in the best interest of the state,” he concluded.