Civil and public servants across Edo State have issued a resounding commendation to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his transformative and people-centered leadership, describing his tenure as a watershed moment in the history of the state’s public administration.
In a statement personally signed by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, Esq., PhD., the state’s workforce hailed Governor Okpebholo’s unprecedented strides in uplifting the morale, welfare, and professional dignity of civil and public servants, less than a year into his administration.
“Your Excellency, in just seven months, you have brought forth a renaissance in public service, restoring dignity of labour, stabilizing livelihoods, and reaffirming the fundamental role of the civil service as the engine room of governance,” the statement reads.
The civil service praised the Governor’s decision to raise the minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦75,000, describing it as a landmark gesture that not only acknowledges the contributions of workers but also cushions them against current economic pressures.
“This is more than a wage adjustment; it is a bold declaration that Edo’s workers matter. It is a gesture of faith in those who daily power the machinery of government,” the Head of Service noted.
Beyond remuneration, the statement lauded Governor Okpebholo’s human-centric approach to governance, highlighting the expansion of the health insurance scheme to include orphans and vulnerable citizens, an extension of social protection rarely seen at subnational levels.
One of the Governor’s most profound interventions, the civil service said, was the formal absorption of over 1,000 cleaners – formerly employed through outsourced channels into full-time public service. These newly integrated staff now benefit from job security, pension entitlements, and the enhanced minimum wage.
“Governor Okpebholo has dismantled decades long barriers between dignity and labour. He has converted thankless tasks into protected service, and given workers across strata a renewed sense of belonging,” Dr. Okungbowa, noted.
The administration has also made significant strides in capacity enrichment, employing over 500 skilled graduates across key disciplines, including education, engineering, health, law, and human resources, strategically filling long-vacant technical positions in MDAs.
The Governor’s commitment to justice was further evidenced in his reinstatement and regularization of over 2,000 workers whose appointments were hurriedly made in the finally phase of the previous administration. According to the Head of Service, this corrective measure has “restored not only jobs, but trust, justice, and institutional memory.”
Salary payments have remained prompt and uninterrupted, with wages consistently disbursed on or before the 26th of every month. Notably, November salaries were paid within days of Governor Okpebholo’s assumption of office, while the Muslim holy month of Ramadan witnessed early payments in a show of cultural sensitivity and fiscal prudence, even as the state absorbed a heightened wage bill due to new hires.
The statement also acknowledged the ongoing digital reforms which are taking shape. The administration is currently auditing the e-Government and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platforms to enhance workflow efficiency, data-driven planning, and public sector transparency.
Equally significant is the elevation of five civil servants to the prestigious rank of Permanent Secretary, a decision applauded for strengthening leadership pipelines and reinforcing institutional continuity. Simultaneously, the revitalization of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) has established new benchmarks for in-service training, with a focus on leveraging internal knowledge to shape future talent.
Governor Okpebholo has further extended the policy of automatic employment for First Class graduates, offering them not just jobs, but academic sponsorships for postgraduate studies, a move that signals a long-term commitment to intellectual capital and knowledge-driven governance.
The physical infrastructure of the civil service is not left behind. Two major service buildings on Ezoti Street are currently undergoing reconstruction, in a bid to improve working conditions and instill architectural pride in the public sector.
Summing up the collective sentiments of Edo’s public workforce, the Head of Service declared:
“Your Excellency, your leadership has ignited a new ethos of pride, duty, and excellence in Edo’s civil service. You have earned our admiration, our respect, and our enduring loyalty.”
As the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo continues to chart a bold course towards a more inclusive, dignified, and professional civil service, Edo State’s workers say they stand ready to serve with renewed commitment, to lead with integrity, and to uphold the Governor’s vision of a state that works for all.
