Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Right Honourable Blessing Agbebaku, recently clarified the rationale behind the reduction in the allocation to the Deputy Governor's office for the 2024 appropriation.
The allocation was slashed to approximately N345 million, while other offices, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Head of Service (HoS), and others, received higher allocations.
Agbebaku addressed journalists in his office, dispelling rumors of discontent among some members of the house who were allegedly plotting to disrupt proceedings.
Explaining the reduction in the Deputy Governor's allocation, Agbebaku emphasized that the decision was based on the expectation that fewer responsibilities would be assigned to the Deputy Governor in the coming year due to his gubernatorial ambitions. He clarified that this reduction was not a new occurrence, citing similar trends in previous budgets.
According to Agbebaku, the Governor acknowledged the Deputy Governor's significant aspiration and the time commitment it required. As a result, most of the Deputy Governor's functions were reallocated to other offices, a prerogative held by the Governor.
Highlighting the constitutional limitations of the Deputy Governor's powers, Agbebaku noted that the allocation to the Deputy Governor is not a personal gift but a remuneration for work performed. With the Deputy Governor focusing on his gubernatorial ambition, the Governor decided to minimize his responsibilities and, consequently, the associated financial allocation.
Agbebaku elaborated on the unique circumstances of the upcoming year, emphasizing that the majority of it would be dedicated to electioneering—about 11 months. In light of this, it was deemed impractical for the Deputy Governor to effectively carry out his duties while actively pursuing a gubernatorial campaign.
In a gesture of understanding, the Governor expressed support for the Deputy Governor's ambition and opted not to impede his progress towards becoming governor. Consequently, the decision was made to limit the Deputy Governor's functions and, by extension, the financial allocation.
Addressing an allegation that the office of the Speaker received over 19 billion naira, Agbebaku clarified that there was no direct allocation to his office. Instead, the mentioned figure represented the allocation to the entire state house of assembly.
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