APC Guber Candidate Okpebholo Slams Obaseki’s New Minimum Wage as ‘Greek Gift

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has raised concerns regarding the accountability of the N5 billion approved by the Federal Government as palliative measures for civil servants.

In a statement released on political developments leading up to the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Okpebholo criticized Governor Godwin Obaseki’s announcement of a new minimum wage for civil servants as a deliberate distraction from more pressing issues that need to be addressed.

He highlighted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved N5 billion for each state and the FCT in 2023 to assist in procuring food items for distribution to the less privileged and to provide additional support to civil servants for six months.

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Okpebholo emphasized that the minimum wage increase was merely a superficial gesture and called for transparency regarding the allocation of the N5 billion, which he alleged Obaseki had set aside for his election campaign.

He pointed out that Edo civil servants are owed six months’ worth of arrears and criticized the lack of distribution of palliatives or financial assistance to them, unlike in other states where similar funds were utilized for the benefit of the people.

Okpebholo accused Obaseki of withholding funds for electoral purposes and urged him to be accountable to the people of Edo State regarding the utilization of the allocated funds