Oba of Benin remains uncontestable head of all traditional rulers and chiefs in Edo State

… Monarch’s subvention has been shored up, not reduced as is being peddled by mischief makers

The Edo State Government restates that the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, remains the uncontestable head of all the traditional rulers and chiefs in Edo State.

The government notes that the subvention to the monarch has increased since Governor Godwin Obaseki came into office and has not been reduced whatsoever, as is being falsely peddled by mischief makers.

Rather, the funding increased since the commencement of the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki because the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the excess crude components have been included.

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 some disagreement 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.

These administrative issues have now been resolved by the Edo State Government and the palace delegation led by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, and this pool of funds is now being disbursed to the various traditional rulers across the State as well as the Benin Traditional Council.

The total amount now being disbursed to all the traditional rulers in the State is N1,316,746,764.13. Of this amount.