The Edo State Government has restated that the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, remains the head of all the traditional rulers and chiefs in Edo State, refuting claim that the monarch’s subvention has been reduced.
In a press statement on Friday by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, the state government noted that the subvention to the monarch has increased since Governor Godwin Obaseki came into office and has not been reduced, as it is being falsely peddled by mischief makers.
Nehikhare said that the funding increased since the commencement due the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the excess crude components have been included.
The statement reads, “The Oba of Benin’s position as the permanent head of all the traditional rulers in Edo State remains sacrosanct in the State Government’s implementation of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, especially as relates to section 45 of the edict.
“Recently, in the wake of disagreements among some traditional rulers in the state, the traditional rulers agreed with the state government to temporarily warehouse the fund in a central pool until the administrative issues were addressed. This was between April 2023 and July 2023.
“It is important to state here that against the false information that the fund was withheld from July 2022 to July 2023, all statutory payment was paid until April 2023, when it was agreed for the funds to be warehoused till date for the resolution of outstanding issues.”
