By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, has revealed that over 8,000 civil and public servants have been employed within one year under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, describing the achievement as unprecedented and a clear reflection of the Governor’s people-oriented leadership.
Commending the Governor for what he described as practical and inclusive governance, Dr. Okungbowa said the policies of the Okpebholo administration have significantly improved the standard of living of Edo people, particularly civil and public servants.
According to him, since Governor Okpebholo was sworn in on November 12, 2024, the state has witnessed remarkable transformation across all sectors through the effective implementation of the SHINE Agenda, with projects and reforms spread across the 18 local government areas.
The Head of Service said, “Mr. Governor has had a lot of achievements across various sectors in the State, but that of the civil and public service has been outstanding and phenomenal,”
“This administration came on board and hit the ground running and was in a hurry to bring development to the State and improve the lives of the people, especially civil and public servants.”
Dr. Okungbowa noted that one of the early decisions of the Governor was to strengthen the civil service by ensuring that its core responsibilities are handled by career officers rather than consultants.
He said, “From November 12, he began to work very hard to raise the stake, insisting that the work of the civil and public servants must be done by them and not by consultants,”
He explained that workers’ welfare has remained a priority of the administration, with Governor Okpebholo ensuring regular payment of salaries, payment of 13th-month salaries and the implementation of a new minimum wage.
Dr. Okungbowa stated, “The Governor pays salaries regularly and embraces pragmatic governance. He increased the minimum wage on May 1, 2025, without any pressure from Edo workers,”
The Head of Service disclosed that the Governor also ended the outsourcing of cleaners, directing that the funds previously paid to consultants be used to employ workers directly.
He said, “Cleaners were outsourced and managed by consultants, but he insisted that the money used to outsource them was enough to employ 1,000 cleaners into the service, and he gave instructions to that effect,”
“Today, they are employed on a full-time basis on the new minimum wage of ₦75,000, as against ₦18,000 to ₦25,000, and their jobs are now guaranteed.”
According to Dr. Okungbowa, the administration has also carried out massive recruitment across key sectors of the state economy.
“In the health sector, we have employed over 2,000 workers. In the teaching sector, over 6,000 have been brought into the service,” he said, adding that the combined recruitments across MDAs bring the total number of jobs created to over 8,000 within one year. “I don’t think any government has done that in Edo State,” he added.
He further noted that staff welfare has continued to receive priority attention.
He said, “Staff welfare has received front-row attention, with prompt payment of salaries, pensions, quick disbursement of death benefits to deceased persons’ families, as well as scholarships for their children as ongoing support,”
Dr. Okungbowa also highlighted the First-Class Graduate Scheme introduced by the administration.
He explained, “Every first-class graduate of Edo extraction is given automatic employment, sent for a master’s degree at the expense of the Edo State Government and paid stipends throughout the programme,”
Speaking on interventions in tertiary institutions, the Head of Service said the Governor reinstated disengaged staff of Ambrose Alli University and significantly increased funding to state-owned universities.
He said, “AAU’s monthly subvention was increased from ₦41 million to ₦500 million, while Edo State University, Iyamho, was increased from ₦100 million to ₦250 million,”
He further disclosed that the administration released ₦4.6 billion for the payment of pension entitlements to 714 disengaged staff of the Colleges of Education in Ekiadolor and Igueben, approved ₦1.168 billion as first-tranche payment to address long-standing salary arrears at Ekiadolor, and disbursed ₦292 million as second-tranche payment for disengaged staff of the Colleges of Agriculture in Agenebode and Iguoriakhi.
He added, “Outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of Edo Broadcasting Service and Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, have also been paid,”
Dr. Okungbowa noted that within the one-year period under review, the Governor also created new MDAs and commissions, reconstituted the Civil Service Commission, constructed doctors’ residences, revamped facilities at Ezoti, employed a visually impaired lawyer, introduced functional and discipline-specific training under the JOOPSA programme, and deployed a new e-governance platform to enhance efficiency and transparency.
He concluded by quoting the Governor’s resolve to improve lives across the state.
Dr. Okungbowa said, “The Governor has made it clear that he is in government to make life better for Edo people, and he will continue to formulate and implement friendly policies to ensure that through practical governance, the people enjoy the dividends of democracy,”