Edo Civil, Public Servants Laud Gov. Okpebholo’s Bold Leadership, Landmark Welfare Reforms

Civil and public servants across Edo State have showered encomiums on Governor Monday Okpebholo for what they described as his transformative, people-focused leadership and unprecedented commitment to the welfare of the state’s workforce.

In a statement personally signed by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, Esq., PhD, the civil service community hailed the Governor’s strides in uplifting the morale, dignity, and working conditions of Edo’s civil and public servants barely seven months into his tenure.

“Your Excellency, in just seven months, you have sparked a renaissance in public service, restoring the dignity of labour, stabilizing livelihoods, and reaffirming the central role of the civil service as the engine room of governance,” the statement read.

The workforce commended Governor Okpebholo’s recent decision to raise the minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦75,000, describing it as a bold and compassionate move that acknowledges the sacrifices of workers while cushioning them against prevailing economic challenges.

“This is far beyond a wage increment; it is a reaffirmation that Edo workers matter. It is a gesture of confidence in those who daily drive the business of governance,” the Head of Service stated.

The statement equally highlighted the Governor’s people-centred policies, including the expansion of the State Health Insurance Scheme to orphans and vulnerable persons, a social protection milestone rarely seen at subnational levels.

Among other remarkable interventions, over 1,000 contract cleaners have been formally absorbed into the public service, gaining access to job security, pension entitlements, and the new minimum wage.

“Governor Okpebholo has dismantled longstanding barriers between dignity and labour. He has transformed once-thankless roles into protected public service positions, giving workers a renewed sense of belonging,” Okungbowa noted.

The administration has also prioritized capacity-building, recruiting over 500 skilled graduates across key professional fields education, law, engineering, health, and human resources to fill technical gaps in ministries and departments.

In another decisive action, the Governor reinstated and regularized over 2,000 workers whose appointments were hastily made during the final days of the previous administration, a move the Head of Service said restored “jobs, justice, trust, and institutional memory.”

The workforce further applauded the Governor for ensuring uninterrupted, early salary payments — with wages consistently paid on or before the 26th of each month, including early disbursements during Ramadan and the prompt settlement of November salaries within days of assuming office.

The Head of Service also pointed to ongoing digital governance reforms, particularly audits of the e-Government and GIS platforms, designed to improve workflow efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and public sector transparency.

Significantly, five senior civil servants were recently elevated to the rank of Permanent Secretary in a move lauded for strengthening leadership succession and institutional stability.

The revitalization of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) was also cited as a major milestone, with the institution now providing modernized in-service training and capacity development opportunities.

Governor Okpebholo has equally maintained the state’s automatic employment policy for First Class graduates, coupled with postgraduate scholarship opportunities, a development viewed as a long-term investment in intellectual capital and good governance.

On infrastructure, the administration is currently reconstructing two major civil service buildings along Ezoti Street, aimed at improving working conditions and restoring architectural pride to the state’s public service.

Summarizing the collective sentiments of Edo’s public workforce, Dr. Okungbowa declared:

“Your Excellency, you have reignited a new ethos of pride, duty, and excellence in Edo’s civil service. You have earned our admiration, respect, and unwavering loyalty.”

As Governor Okpebholo continues to pursue a bold, inclusive, and dignified civil service reform agenda, Edo’s workers reaffirmed their commitment to serve with renewed zeal, uphold integrity, and drive the Governor’s vision of a state that truly works for all.