The Edo State Government has dismissed reports alleging that teachers in the state are being owed salaries, describing such claims as misleading and politically motivated.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Prince Kassim Afegbua, made the clarification on Wednesday during a ministerial briefing in Benin, where he addressed a wide range of issues relating to governance, infrastructure development and public service delivery under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Afegbua said the government had consistently prioritized the welfare of teachers and other public servants, noting that over 5,000 teachers had been recruited by the present administration to strengthen the state’s education sector.
He maintained that any isolated case of salary non-payment should be investigated on its merits rather than being generalized as a government policy.
According to him, those spreading reports that teachers were being owed salaries were deliberately attempting to misinform the public and tarnish the image of the administration.
He challenged individuals with genuine complaints to provide specific details to enable the government investigate and address such cases.
The commissioner also defended the government’s extensive infrastructure projects across the state, particularly in rural communities, saying the administration was committed to ensuring balanced development in all parts of Edo State.
He noted that critics had questioned projects being executed in some communities but argued that government had a responsibility to provide infrastructure wherever the need existed.
Afegbua said Governor Okpebholo’s development agenda was not limited to urban centres but extended to villages, hamlets and agrarian communities.
He cited the construction of roads and other critical infrastructure as part of efforts to improve accessibility, stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of residents.
He explained that opening up rural areas would attract investors, especially in agriculture and agro-processing, thereby creating jobs and boosting economic growth.
According to him, improved road networks would make it easier for farmers and businesses to access markets and expand their operations.
The commissioner stressed that the administration’s development strategy covered all the 18 local government areas of the state, adding that government policies were designed to serve the collective interests of Edo people irrespective of their political affiliations or social status.
He noted that democracy was about improving the welfare of the people and creating an enabling environment for citizens to pursue their individual and collective aspirations.
He added that the government had continued to invest billions of naira in projects spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Also speaking during the briefing, the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Hon. Festus Ebea, urged residents to support ongoing efforts to combat criminality, particularly kidnapping and drug-related offences.
He expressed concern over the activities of some individuals who use social media platforms to spread misinformation capable of creating fear and undermining public confidence.
Ebea disclosed that security agencies had recorded significant breakthroughs in the fight against kidnapping, including the arrest of suspected accomplices and wanted criminals.
He said the government had strengthened collaboration among security agencies and community stakeholders to secure farms, communities and major transportation corridors across the state.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Saturday Uwulekhue Idehen, announced new measures aimed at improving traffic management and enhancing passenger safety.
He said commercial transport operators would be issued identification numbers for easy authentication, while restrictions on unauthorized parking, indiscriminate loading and offloading, and the operation of motorcycles and tricycles on designated highways would continue.
He added that the government was investing in modern transport infrastructure, including CNG-powered buses and transit facilities, to improve mobility and support economic development across the state.