Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has accused the state House of Assembly of failing to execute constituency projects despite the release of funds by the executive.
Okpebholo spoke while explaining the reasons behind the recent amendment of the Financial Autonomy Law of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Judicial Autonomy Law.
The governor made the remarks when traditional rulers from Esan South East Local Government Area, led by the Onojie of Ubiaja, His Royal Highness Curtis Iredia Eidinojie I, paid him a visit at the Government House in Benin City.
He said the amendments were aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and due process in the management of state funds, stressing that they were necessary to prevent the people from being shortchanged.
According to Okpebholo, no constituency project had been executed by the House of Assembly since September 2025 despite funds being allocated for such projects.
He explained that while the legislature is responsible for appropriating funds, it cannot assume the functions of the executive by directly executing projects.
“We have three independent arms of government, and the House of Assembly (legislature) is to appropriate funds and not to carry out the functions of the executive by executing projects.
“Since last year, a lot of money was going there, but even the members were not seeing it. Since September last year, they have not carried out any constituency project, and money was still going there.
“These are reasons why we cannot trust one individual with due process without checks and balances,” Okpebholo said.
The governor said the amended law would ensure that constituency projects were domiciled in the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), where they could be properly monitored and implemented.
He added that lawmakers would continue to appropriate funds for constituency projects, while the relevant MDAs would be responsible for executing them in line with approved specifications.
“Now, their constituency projects will be domiciled in various MDAs, and once they appropriate funds for projects, they can track them through the ministries and ensure the projects are done according to specification, not one person determining what should be done.
“These are the things we are trying to correct, and thank God the members understand it and are insisting that their money is for the people and must follow due process,” he said.
