In a decisive move to reevaluate state finances, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered the immediate freezing of all government-owned bank accounts. The directive, issued Thursday through a statement by Chief Press Secretary Fred Itua, mandates that all commercial banks and heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) comply without delay. The governor’s office emphasized that the freeze would remain in effect until further notice as part of an ongoing financial review.
Okpebholo issued a strong warning to commercial banks and government officials, stressing that any individual or entity disregarding the order would face serious 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 Commercial banks must comply with this order and ensure that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice,” the statement read. Heads of MDAs are also instructed to adhere strictly to the directive to ensure seamless compliance across government departments.
This suspension aims to facilitate thorough financial investigations and reconciliations, enabling the new administration to assess the state’s fiscal health. The governor assured that subsequent actions on the status of the accounts would follow after necessary audits are complete.
In a related announcement, Okpebholo also directed a return to traditional government nomenclature by renaming the Ministry of Roads and Bridges back to its former designation, the Ministry of Works. This rebranding reverses a change made by the prior administration under former Governor Godwin Obaseki. Okpebholo described the former designation as inappropriate, citing a lack of substantial bridge projects during Obaseki’s term, including no pedestrian bridges.
The governor’s office underscored that further decisions regarding administrative changes from the previous administration would be assessed in the coming days. “In the coming days, we will examine further actions taken by the previous administration and make decisions that serve the best interests of the state,” the statement concluded.
With these immediate actions, Okpebholo has signaled a firm approach to governance, underscoring his commitment to a transparent financial system and effective governmental structure for Edo State.
