Edo governor freezes state bank accounts, changes ministry’s name
Story by Victor Itodo ABUH
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced the immediate suspension of all state-owned bank accounts.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Governor Okpebholo highlighted that withdrawals from government accounts would remain halted until the completion of a comprehensive reconciliation process.
Fred Itua, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, conveyed the directive, underscoring the necessity for strict adherence by all involved.
Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were specifically tasked with ensuring full compliance.
“All state bank accounts with commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with this order and ensure that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice,” the statement read.
Read also: Newly sworn-in Edo gov sacks political appointees, dissolves boards
Governor Okpebholo also issued a stern warning, stating that any breach of the directive, whether by MDAs or civil servants, would be met with serious consequences.
The freeze is part of an ongoing review initiated by the governor to assess and enhance the state’s financial management practices.
Governor Okpebholo emphasised that once the investigations are concluded, he will take appropriate measures to promote greater transparency and accountability within Edo’s financial system.
In a related development, the governor instructed relevant agencies to reinstate the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its former title, the Ministry of Works.
This move reverses a change implemented during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Governor Okpebholo said the previous name was misleading due to the absence of new bridge constructions during Obaseki’s term.
“It is odd to name a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, especially when not a single bridge was built by the previous administration—not even a pedestrian bridge,” the statement stated.
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