APC Candidate Senator Okpebholo Presents N200 Million in Death Benefits Cheques to 47 Families of Deceased Edo Civil Servants

Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Edo State gubernatorial election, yesterday, Thursday, December 4, 2025, personally presented cheques totaling N200 million to the families of 47 deceased civil servants in the state. The ceremony, held in Benin City, saw the Senator disburse the funds representing the pension entitlements and death benefits owed to the families under the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme.

Speaking at the presentation, Senator Okpebholo expressed his deepest condolences to the beneficiaries and criticized the current state administration for the persistent delays in processing and disbursing death benefits, noting that such bureaucratic hurdles exacerbate the trauma and financial hardship faced by bereaved families. The Senator emphasized that the welfare of civil servants, both active and retired, is non-negotiable and should be treated with utmost priority.

The APC gubernatorial candidate took the opportunity to reiterate a key promise of his campaign: to ensure the full efficiency and adequate funding of the state’s pension system. He pledged that if elected, his administration would implement measures to clear the entire backlog of pension and death benefit arrears within his first year in office. He asserted that the prompt payment of these entitlements is a fundamental right of the workers and a moral obligation of the state government. The ceremony was attended by APC state officials and representatives of the beneficiaries, who acknowledged the timely financial intervention.