To enhance the living standard of the people, the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration banned Market Unions that arbitrarily fix exorbitant prices for goods and food items, thereby drastically reducing the prices of food items in markets across the state and the Executive Order was signed by His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo on December 31st, 2024 for the Establishment, Adoption and Implementation of the Principles of Framework for responsible and inclusive Land-intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA).
The Edo State Government realizes the importance of agriculture in the socio-economic development of the state and approved the establishment of the State Road Fund (SRF) and Rural Access Road Agency (RARA), requirements under the FRILIA RAAMP program.
This will qualify Edo State to access the $500 million World Bank grant for Rural Agricultural Development and the Budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was increased from N5.9 billion in 2024 to over N70 billion in 2025, marking a record breaking 1,086 percent increase, distribution of 8,188 bags of fertilizer to 4,094 farmers, and facilitating the raising of 34,576 cocoa seedlings with Bass Cocoa Farms.
The government also facilitated the building of a Model Facility Veterinary Hospital, disbursement of over N500 million to empower 1,797 farmers in the State under the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project and the Governor approved the sum of N1.6 billion to cover the remaining eight Local Government Areas not captured by the Project.
A new approach to education policy has been developed in the state to revitalize the sector which has been destroyed by the previous administration. In the past one hundred days, the Okpebholo administration Increased the monthly subvention to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma from N41 million to N500 Million, an increase of over 1119.5 percent, restoration of illegally disengaged Staff of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, recruitment of qualified academic and non-academic staff for the Ambrose Alli University, appointment and inauguration of a Governing Council for the Ambrose Alli University, and successful resolution of the long-standing delay in the Induction of 128 Graduates from the College of Medicine of the Ambrose Alli University.
As a demonstration of the administration premium on education, there is ongoing recruitment of 500 Teachers for Basic and Post-Basic Schools in Edo State, Construction and Furnishing of Eweka Primary School in Benin City, Construction and renovation of New Era College, Benin City, Construction and renovation of Ebomisi Secondary School, Ebomisi, Construction and renovation of Illeh Primary School, Esan West, Construction and renovation of Irrua Girls Grammar School, Irrua, Construction and renovation of Udomi Primary School Uwessan, and the government has Commenced the revamp of all Technical Colleges in the State as well as the accreditation of three (3) Programmes at the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.
The Programmes are; HND Business Administration, HND Estate Management, and ND Mineral and Petroleum Resources, as well as the Construction, furnishing and fencing of 3 blocks of classrooms at Ugbubezi Primary School, Sabongida Ora and other locations in the 3 Senatorial Districts, using the CSDA platform.
In offering to serve the people of Edo State , Governor Monday Okpebholo resolved to proffer governance of people friendly policies and an equitable and fair distribution of democracy dividends , the rule of law, human rights and respect for traditional institutions.
Immediately he was inaugurated, the governor restored the full statutory rights to His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare, the Oba of Benin and established the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
The government Improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from an average of N8 billion to over N10 billion, marking the first time ever that IGR would hit double digit in the history of Edo State and 38 First Class Graduates were appointed as part of the Graduate Development Programme, and expansion of the Graduate Development Programme, now re-christened the Public Service Talent Development Programme
The government approved the implementation of the new Public Service Rules, which were last reviewed 25 years ago, Stopped exploitation of cleaners by Consultants and approved direct employment of over 700 Cleaners into Edo State Public Service on minimum wage with job security as well as disengagement of several Consultants who were fleecing Edo State funds and had taken over the functions of many Public Servants without just cause.
The Governor returned Public Servants to their duty posts, thereby enhancing their career development and advancement and the Swearing-in of three Judges who were excluded from being sworn in by the Obaseki Administration despite being confirmed by the National Judicial Council (NJC)
With the launch of an interest-free loan Scheme for market women, farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs across urban and rural areas of the State, over 5,000 beneficiaries have been earmarked to receive the loan to stabilize businesses and drive economic growth.
Edo State, in collaboration with the World Bank, disbursed grants to over 400 small and medium business owners, reducing their financial burdens and fostering business resilience.
In 100 days, Edojobs recorded 5,102 walk-ins at its job centers across eight locations with 317 residents successfully placed in jobs, 559 vacancies sourced, and employable outcomes growing by 2,097 percent and Edo Government through the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub trained 172 Edo youth in film making via a 3-day workshop, equipping them with storytelling, script writing, content creation and video editing skills for the creative industry;
Edo State Government through the Edo Innovates, partnered with GirlLEAD to empower women with entrepreneurial, leadership and tech skills, bridging the gender gap in STEM.
The government recovered the Bendel Newspaper Corporation (The publishers of the Nigerian Observer) from the consultants employed by the previous administration and handed it back to the civil servants to propagate activities of government because the governor believes that the citizens must not be oblivious of the workings of the government. This is geared towards the rapid development of the state while forging a communication link between the government and the governed.
A pioneer Managing Director was appointed for the take-off of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency and Constitution and inauguration of Boards and Commissions previously not inaugurated by the last administration for eight years.
As a workers friendly governor, the government paid 13th month salary to Edo workers, approved the recruitment of fifty (50) public officers to provide professional services for the Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency, Collaborated with ICT Experts worldwide to ensure the delivery of professional network and Internet services to all MDAs, equipping ICTA personnel with opportunities to acquire professional certifications from the Cisco Networking Academy, Network Development Group (NDG), Nigerian ICT Forum, and Nigerian Network Operators Group (ngNOG) and at least 20 ICTA Staff were enrolled on Cisco Academy platform for the training and certification exams
Within these one hundred days in office, there was passage of a Law for the extension of the retirement age of Magistrates and Presidents of Area Customary Courts in Edo State and the State Government in collaboration with the Office of Her Excellency, wife of the President, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, empowered 250 elderly persons across the 18 LGAs of the State with cash grant of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each and also distributed essential food items to the vulnerable and needy within the State.
Interestingly, we are talking about 100-day achievements of Governor Monday Okpebholo who had to patent his own signature from the day of inauguration and this calls for commendation from all, except those who are guilty of what psychologists describe as the fear of gratitude.
For me, I will score the Governor 9.8 out of an impossible 10 percent, because for some Governors, 100 days is a period of honeymoon for receiving visitors and engaging in frivolities.
As the administration work diligently to change the situation for the better, Edo People should be patient and rest assured that Governor Monday Okpebholo will be humane and deliver the dividend of democracy to everyone, including the down trodden, weak and vulnerable segments of our society and the State will be restored to a position of glory and greater heights as a new Edo has risen
Hon Paul Ohonbamu
Commissioner for Information and Communications
