December 3, 2024
By Idris Buba
The 18 local government council chairmen in Edo state have been given 48 hours ultimatum to submit their statements of accounts to the Assets Verification Committee, through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG
The state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, gave the directive on Tuesday when the chairmen led by the Edo State chairman of the Association of Local Governments Of Nigeria, ALGON, Newman Ugiagbe paid him a courtesy visit at government house, Benin city.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, said the statement of accounts should be effective from the 4th of September 2023 till date, stating that administration would work closely with the council bosses for a better State
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, in a statement, quoted the governor as saying that “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.
“Mr. 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.
“The Governor would want you to submit your statement of accounts from 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 do its job effectively and efficiently.
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“The statement of accounts should be sent through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to Assets Verification Committee. The Governor thanks you for you time.”
The state ALGON chairman who is also the chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Newman Ugiagbe, had earlier pledged the association loyalty to the Governor and promised to collaborate to ensure the administration succeeds.
“We are here to congratulate the Governor and the Deputy on the mandate Edo people gave them and here to pledge our loyalty to your administration.
The ALGON members also promised to work harmoniously with governor Okpebholo and ensure his policies and programmes get to the grassroots as he spreads the dividends of democracy to Edo people.