Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, December 10, presented the state’s 2025 budget of N605 billion, titled “Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” to the 24-member House of Assembly.
This represents a 25 percent increase over the 2024 budget.
Governor Okpebholo outlined that 37 percent of the budget, totaling N223 billion, would be allocated to recurrent expenditure, while the remaining N381 billion, or 63 percent, would be earmarked for capital projects, in line with his administration’s vision of a newly rising Edo.
Okpebholo said: “The proposed appropriation bill is a product of wide consultations. It will ensure accountability and transparency in governance, for responsive service delivery to the people of Edo State.
“The 2025 proposed budget is designed to achieve the goals of my five-point agenda, which are security, infrastructural development, healthcare, food sufficiency and education.
“We have also prepared this budget appropriation with the aim of achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
“We have condensed the programmes into the State Development Plan, which will remain the basis for my administration in the year 2025.”
Edo governor, while giving the breakdown of the 2025 budget, revealed that road infrastructure would gulp N162 billion, with education having appropriation of N48 billion, out of which Edo government-owned Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma would be provided with N500 million monthly subvention, to ensure its revival.
Read Also: Okpebholo faults Obaseki’s refusal to distribute books donated by Tinubu
On security and community development, he stated that his administration, powered by the drive to bring about peace and harmony in all parts of the state, would put energies to ensure hostilities between communities were resolved, while health had a budget of N63.9 billion, with commitment to increase access to quality healthcare.
Okpebholo disclosed that agriculture had N4.5 billion, since it had been playing a pivotal role in food production, revenue generation and job creation, with the need to strengthen the agricultural sector, particularly in the area of farm mechanisation, while special attention would be paid to the security of farmers and safety of the farmlands.
He said: “I have highlighted the major policy objectives of the 2025 budget, aimed at uplifting the socio-economic conditions of our people. Let me once again renew my deep appreciation to this Honourable house for the cooperation and support extended to this administration since inception.
“I want to sincerely appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his forthright leadership and the timely intervention in our state, in road construction, education, workers welfare, and a whole lot more.”
The speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Chief Blessing Agbebaku, assured the state’s governor that he and other legialators would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure speedy passage of the appropriation bill.
Agbebaku also urged all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide the necessary documents to the lawmakers, so as to ensure speedy passage of the budget, while promising that the legislators would work with Okpebholo to make sure Edo residents enjoy the dividends of democracy.