Edo State's N14.15 Billion Extra-Budgetary Spending Exposed

A report reveals that Edo State has incurred N14.15 billion in extra-budgetary spending, raising serious questions about fiscal discipline under Governor Okpebholo. Official documents indicate that expenditures were made outside the approved budgetary allocations for capital projects, overhead, and personnel costs.

This breach of fiscal discipline has been described as a failure by anti-corruption groups. Notably, the Edo State House of Assembly is constitutionally empowered to scrutinize public spending, yet significant deviations from the approved budget have occurred.

For instance, N505 million was spent on a rural access agricultural market project against an approved N500 million. Additionally, the Edo State High Court exceeded its overhead ceiling by N1.17 billion.

The report highlights a pattern of weak adherence to budgetary limits, with various ministries, including social development and health, also recording substantial over-expenditures.