Benin, Edo – In a decisive move, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the immediate refund of over N17 million in uniform debts left unpaid by the previous administration, shining a harsh spotlight on the financial recklessness of former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s regime.

The long-overdue payment, owed to executive principals of senior secondary schools, addresses a scandalous oversight that has lingered as a testament to the prior administration’s incompetence and disregard for educational stakeholders.

The debt, accrued under the watch of former Education Commissioner Dr. Joan Oviawe, stemmed from a uniform committee established by a former ministry consultant, Chinelo Ezeobi.

According to Onaifo Osemwengie, Executive Principal of Egor Senior Secondary School and leader of a committee of principals, the initiative was abruptly dissolved by Oviawe, leaving principals saddled with unpaid dues exceeding N17 million.

This abandonment forced school leaders to repeatedly petition the Senior Secondary Education Board (SSEB) for relief, only to be met with delays and excuses under the previous government.

Dr. Maureen Ekhoragbon, Executive Chairman of the SSEB, hailed Governor Okpebholo’s swift approval as a mark of “excellence, transparency, and accountability,” qualities glaringly absent in the prior administration’s handling of the matter.

The principals, who endured years of frustration, expressed gratitude to both the SSEB and the governor for finally addressing their plight.

This development lays bare the Obaseki administration’s pattern of mismanagement, where funds meant for critical educational initiatives were left unaccounted for, burdening school administrators and undermining the state’s education system.

Governor Okpebholo’s action not only rectifies this injustice but also signals a sharp departure from the negligence that defined the previous regime’s tenure.