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| Lucky Igbinedion |
Before Lucky Igbinedion was sworn in as Edo State governor in 1999, the Benin Airport had become a grazing field for cattle. His government got airlines to commence operations, and also negotiated for the commencement of air travel between Benin City and Abuja.
Bendel Brewery, makers of Crystal Beer which was sold by Chief John Oyegun’s government to Churchgate was reclaimed and revived by the same government.
Edo Line the state owned Transport Company was revived with several new buses which eased travelling at affordable prices across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) was also created by the same government.
One of the foremost newspapers in Nigeria, The Observer was upgraded; College of Agric Iguoriakhi, Institute of Technology Usen, College of Education Ekiadolor, Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and College of Education Abudu Campus were founded and revived by Lucky Igbinedion’s administration.
During Lucky Igbinedion’s tenure, the state IGR experienced a drastic rise from a paltry 27 million to 300 million naira monthly.
The government’s labour friendliness was expressed when stagnated promotions were reviewed and some civil servants experienced three to four steps promotions.
The State University that became notorious for cultism was sanitised revived and renamed Ambrose Alli University (AAU).
Edo State House Abuja was successfully completed and commissioned.
The Stella Obasanjo women and children hospital was built and commissioned by the same government.
The state also carried out massive rural electrification throughout most part of the state. Some of them are: 33/415 KVA Ewohimi/Iyagun electricity scheme in Esanland, the 11/415 KVA Uhen project, Jagbe electrification project in Etsako West, the 33/415 Ikpekhi and Somorika electrification project in Akoko Edo and 11/415 Idogbo electricity scheme with a network to Oka, Egba, Obazagbon, Uteze, Ulegun and Ukhirin 2 in Ikpoba Okha Local Government area amongst others.
These and other achievements created several job opportunities to citizens of Edo State.
Lucky Igbinedion’s government inherited 28 months salary arrears at the council of arts and culture, 26 months at BNCL, Observer, 14 months at Edo Broadcasting Service, 18 months to pensioners due and others to the self sustenance policy imposed on government parastatals by the military government of Colonel Baba Adamu Nyam.
Lucky Igbinedion’s government cleared all the salary arrears and introduced 30th of every month as deadline for monthly salary payments. It is worthy of note that when Lucky Igbinedion left office in 2007, the state was not indebted to any bank.
