Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a directive to freeze all state-owned bank accounts, effective immediately and until further notice.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor instructed commercial banks, as well as heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to ensure full and prompt compliance.
The governor further cautioned that any violation of the directive, including by heads of MDAs or civil servants, would attract severe penalties.
“All bank accounts in all the commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken out of the confers of Government until there is further notice.
“Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies must comply with this order and ensure that there is full compliance without any further delays.
“After the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the Governor will do the needful and decide on the way forward. For now, this order stands,” the statement read.
Furthermore, Governor Okpebholo directed the immediate reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its original name, the Ministry of Works.
He criticized the name Ministry of Roads and Bridges introduced during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, as misleading.
According to him, the previous administration failed to construct any significant roads or bridges, making the name inappropriate.
The governor has instructed the relevant government agencies to implement the change without delay and ensure the new name is reflected immediately.
“It is funny how you can call a Government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges. Ironically, no single bridge was built by the same administration. Not even a pedestrian bridge.
“In the coming days, we will look at more actions taken by the previous administration and more decisions will be taken that will be done in the best interest of the State,” the statement concluded.
