In a decisive move, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate freezing of all state-owned bank accounts, an action intended to tighten oversight on the state’s finances. According to a statement released Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the accounts will remain frozen until further investigations and reconciliations are completed.
Governor Okpebholo instructed all commercial banks holding state accounts to enforce the freeze without delay, emphasizing that no funds should be withdrawn from government accounts. He issued a strict warning to heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and civil servants, cautioning that anyone who disregards the directive will face severe penalties.
“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 Commercial banks must comply with this order and ensure that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice,” the statement read. Okpebholo stressed that the freeze will remain in effect while a comprehensive review of the state’s financial activities is conducted.
Additionally, Governor Okpebholo has directed the immediate renaming of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges back to its former title, the Ministry of Works. The change, originally made by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, was criticized by Okpebholo as “odd,” particularly given the lack of bridge construction projects during the prior administration.
“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,” Okpebholo remarked. He added that in the coming days, his administration would carefully assess actions taken by the former administration to make further decisions in the best interest of Edo State.
The governor’s actions underscore a commitment to fiscal accountability and a return to traditional administrative structures, signaling the beginning of a rigorous financial and structural review in Edo State.
