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.
He described the development as unprecedented and said it reflects a people-focused leadership approach by the current government.
Okungbowa made the disclosure while commending the governor for what he described as practical and inclusive governance that has directly improved the welfare of workers across the state.
According to him, since Governor Okpebholo was sworn in on November 12, 2024, Edo State has experienced visible changes across sectors through the steady implementation of the SHINE Agenda, with projects and reforms spread across all 18 local government areas.
The Head of Service said the civil and public service has recorded some of the most notable gains under the administration.
“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,” he said.
He added, “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.”
Okungbowa explained that one of the early policy steps taken by the governor was to strengthen the civil service by ensuring that core government responsibilities are handled by career officers rather than external 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 noted that workers’ welfare has remained a key priority, with the administration ensuring regular payment of salaries, payment of 13th-month salaries and the implementation of a new minimum wage.
“The Governor pays salaries regularly and embraces pragmatic governance. He increased the minimum wage on May 1, 2025, without any pressure from Edo workers,” Okungbowa stated.
The Head of Service also disclosed that the governor ended the outsourcing of cleaners and directed that funds previously paid to consultants be used to employ workers directly.
“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,” he said.
“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 Okungbowa, the administration has also carried out large-scale recruitment across critical 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.
He added that when combined with recruitments across ministries, departments and agencies, the total number of jobs created stands at over 8,000 within one year.
“I don’t think any government has done that in Edo State,” he added.
Okungbowa further noted that staff welfare continues to receive sustained attention under the current administration.
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