18 LGAS IN EDO STATE ACCUSED OF SQUANDERING OVER N83 BILLION FEDERAL ALLOCATIONS IN 12 MONTHS 
Benin City, Edo State – January 9, 2025– A bombshell report has rocked Edo State, revealing that its 18 local government areas (LGAs), all headed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly squandered over N83 billion in federal allocations within a single year. Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, made the startling announcement during a courtesy visit from the Acting Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, and other party leaders.
Governor Okpebholo highlighted a significant increase in federal allocations to the LGAs under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. He stated that while the LGAs previously received N3.5 billion monthly, the current administration boosted this to N6.5 billion and later to over N8 billion monthly. This amounts to a cumulative N83 billion received between January and December 2024.
The Governor expressed his disappointment, stating that despite President Tinubu's efforts to enhance grassroots development, the LGA chairmen failed to utilize these substantial funds effectively. He accused the suspended chairmen of misappropriating as much as N800 million monthly, leaving schools without adequate infrastructure, teachers, or even proper classrooms.
"These chairmen had the boldness to be removing N800 million monthly from Local Government accounts while our schools suffered," Governor Okpebholo lamented. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to rectifying this situation and ensuring that future allocations are used for the betterment of the people, particularly through increased investment in agriculture.
Hon. Alabi Bliss Oshionogue, in response, pledged the Akoko-Edo LGA's cooperation with the Governor's administration to ensure accountability and transparency. He stressed that the intended purpose of local government autonomy is to bring development to the grassroots, not to enrich individuals.
Other Akoko-Edo leaders, including former EDHA Speaker Rt. Hon. Kabiru Ajoto and Akoko Edo APC Chairman Hon. Monday Ose, also expressed their support for Governor Okpebholo’s efforts. They thanked him for ongoing development projects like the Auchi-Ibilo road construction and recent appointments within the state.
The revelation of this alleged misappropriation has ignited a storm of controversy in Edo State and raised serious questions about financial accountability at the local government level.