Drama at Edo Assembly as Gov Okpebholo struggles with N605bn budget figure

A mild drama unfolded at the Edo State House of Assembly when Governor Monday Okpebholo struggled to pronounce the figures for the state’s 2025 budget during his presentation.

A video capturing the governor stuttering multiple times as he attempted to announce the figures has since gone viral on social media, sparking reactions nationwide.

IDOMA VOICE reports that on Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo presented an estimated N605 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the Edo State House of Assembly. The budget, titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” reflects a 25 percent increase from the 2024 budget.

During the unveiling of the Appropriation Bill, the governor had difficulty pronouncing the N605 billion figure but continued with his speech despite the brief setback.

The governor outlined that 37 percent of the total budget, amounting to N223 billion, would be allocated to recurrent expenditure, while the remaining N381 billion (63 percent) would be directed toward capital projects.

Okpebholo emphasized that the budget was the result of extensive consultations and would help fulfill his administration’s five-point agenda, which includes security, infrastructural development, healthcare, food sufficiency, and education. He also highlighted that N162 billion would be allocated to road infrastructure development.