The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has recently made a statement regarding the controversial 2024 budget allocation for the office of the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
According to Agbebaku, Shaibu’s office received a relatively low allocation of N354m because he was expected to be preoccupied with his governorship ambition in the coming year.
Agbebaku argued that it is reasonable for the deputy governor’s office to receive a smaller budget since Shaibu will likely be less involved in his official duties due to his political ambition.
The 2024 budget, signed into law by Governor Godwin Obaseki on December 15, allocated N19 billion to the governor’s office, N8 billion to the Secretary to the State Government, N13 billion to the House of Assembly and N968m to the Head of Service.
Mr Shaibu’s ambition to become the next governor has reportedly caused tension between him and Obaseki, who is believed to prefer a different successor. This political tension is thought by many to have extended to the complexity surrounding the budget allocation.
Read Also:
On Tuesday, Mr Shaibu gave his account of this rift, “You know there is tension between the governor and me. And for six months, there has been no allocation to my office. So, whatever, I am doing is contributions from friends and my goodwill and I am still standing very strong.”
This budget situation has reportedly sparked a debate among loyalists to the governor and deputy governor about the allocation of state funds and the responsibilities of elected officials.
However, Speaker Agbebaku denied claims that the 2024 allocation to Shaibu’s office had caused division in the state assembly.
Agbebaku defended the allocation, saying it was done to reflect the office’s expected functions in the coming year. He further said that the governor can relocate the deputy governor’s functions to other offices if necessary.
“The deputy governor has even gone to the media to complain that he is no longer working. So, if you are not working, why allocate money to the office?” Agbebaku said.
Agbebaku emphasized that the deputy governor does not have constitutional functions except those allocated to him by the governor.
“The money is not allotted to you as a personal gift; it is given for work. So, if you are not working, naturally the money will not come and there is no way you can be working effectively when you have an ambition of becoming the governor,” he added.
