Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has presented a budget estimate of N605 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.
The governor who presented the appropriation bill before the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, said the 2025 budget tagged: “Budget of renewed hope for a rising Edo” is 25 percent higher than the 2024 budget.
Gov. Okpebholo said that 37 percent of the budget (N223 billion) will be dedicated to recurrent expenditure, while the remaining N381 billion, which represents 63 percent will go into capital projects.
He said the proposed appropriation bill is a product of wide consultations, assuring that it will ensure accountability and transparency in governance for responsive service delivery to the people of the state.
Gov. Okpebholo added that the proposed budget is designed to achieve the goals of his administration’s five-point agenda with focus on security, infrastructural development, healthcare,
food sufficiency and education.
“We have also prepared this budget with the aim of achieving the renewed hope agenda of the federal government. We have condensed the programmes into the state development plan, which will remain the basis for my administration in the year 2025.
“We have appropriated N162 billion for road development across the state. We are aware of the importance of connecting communities with motorable roads for rapid economic growth. Driving from one senatorial district to another, and from one community to another has become very difficult in the recent past,” he said.
Gov. Okpebholo added that his administration bemoaned the deplorable condition of primary, secondary to tertiary institutions in the state, stating that his administration shall provide N500 million monthly subvention to the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma.
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“We shall ensure continuous improvement in the administration of other tertiary institutions. The sum of N48billion is provided in the 2025 budget to accomplish this promise.
“On healthcare, N63.9 billion has been earmarked for the 2025 fiscal year. We are currently reviewing the health sector initiatives to ensure that health is accessible and affordable. With the commitment to increase access to quality healthcare, N1.8 billion has been set aside for the health insurance.
“Agriculture plays a pivotal role in food production as well as revenue generation and job creation. It is therefore, the desire of this administration to strengthen the agricultural sector, particularly in the areas of farm mechanization. We shall take special attention to the security of our farmers and ensure our farmlands are safe.
“Accordingly, the sum of N 4.5 billion has been proposed in the year 2025 budget estimates for the agricultural sub-sector,” the governor said.
