Gov. Okpebholo Gives 48hrs Ultimatum To Council Chairmen To Submit Statements Of Account * Pledge to work closely with the council chairmen

BY ABU MONDAY

BENIN CITY – Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has given 48 hours ultimatum to the 18 local government council chairmen of the state to submit their statements of account to the Assets Verification Committee, through the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Governor Okpebholo who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa gave the ultimatum at the state Government House, Benin City, during a meeting with the chairmen of the 18 LGAs of the state.
According to him, the order takes effect immediately, adding that the statement of accounts should be effective from the 4th of September 2023 till date.
The Governor assured of working closely with the council chairmen from the 18 local government areas of the state for a better State. He promised.

“I have listened to you keenly, the ALGON Chairman. The Governor is a leader of all of us. Election has come and gone and we are all one family. The Governor has asked me to assure you that we are one family.

“He has also asked me to tell you that we will work closely together. I guess you are aware that a few weeks ago, the Assets Verification Committee was constituted.

He said, the governor is committed to transparency and accountability in this Government and that Committee would not have the resources to go across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State.
He further added that the Governor would want you to submit your statement of accounts from the 4th of September 2023 to date, to the Assets Verification Committee within the next 48 hours (2 days), as that would help and enable the Committee to do its job effectively and efficiently.

“The statement of accounts should be sent through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to the Assets Verification Committee. The Governor thanks you for your time,” he noted.

Earlier, the Chairman of, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State Chapter, and Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Newman Ugiagbe, who led the 18 local government chairmen on the courtesy visit, pledged their loyalty to Governor Monday Okpebholo and promised to collaborate with him to ensure that the administration succeeds.

“We are here to congratulate the Governor and the Deputy on the mandate the Edo people gave them and here to pledge our loyalty to your administration.

“Our doors are open to your instructions, policies, and programmes, as we are ready to bring your policies down to the grassroots to enable our people to benefit from the dividends of democracy as we will work to ensure your administration succeeds.”