Benin City, December 3, 2024 – Senator Monday Okpebholo has given the 18 local government council chairmen in the state a 48-hour deadline to submit their financial statements. This directive was issued during a meeting at the Government House in Benin City, where the governor emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
The council chairmen are required to submit their statements of account, effective from September 4, 2023, to date, to the Assets Verification Committee through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Okpebholo, represented by Hon. Dennis Idahosa, stressed that this move is crucial for the committee to perform its duties effectively and efficiently.
“I have listened to you keenly, the ALGON Chairman. The Governor is a leader of all of us. Election has come and gone, and we are all one family. The Governor has asked me to assure you that we are one family. He has also asked me to tell you that we will work closely together,” Idahosa conveyed on behalf of the governor.
The governor’s directive follows the recent constitution of the Assets Verification Committee, which aims to ensure transparency and accountability across the state’s local government areas. The committee, however, lacks the resources to independently verify the financial records of all 18 local government areas, necessitating the submission of these statements.
Newman Ugiagbe, Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), led the council chairmen in pledging their loyalty to Governor Okpebholo. Ugiagbe assured the governor of their commitment to collaborating with his administration to ensure its success.
“We are here to congratulate the Governor and the Deputy on the mandate the Edo people gave them and to pledge our loyalty to your administration. Our doors are open to your instructions, policies, and programs, as we are ready to bring your policies down to the grassroots to enable our people to benefit from the dividends of democracy,” Ugiagbe stated.
