Jubilation As Okpebholo Approves Edo workers’ “13th Month” Salary And First-class Graduates’ Automatic Employment 

In addition to reviving hopes among Edo youths and establishing the conditions necessary for them to shine in public life, State Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo approved the payment of Edo workers’ 13th-month salaries, further solidifying the policy of automatic employment for First Class graduates of Edo extraction from any university in the nation and abroad.

On Friday, November 29, 2024, in Government House in Benin City, the Chief Press Secretary gave Fred Itua, the governor of Edo State, a press statement informing him of this.

The Governor’s intentions were revealed in his release by Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, Head of Service, who noted the Governor’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers in the State and his unpretentious determination to attract the brightest minds to the State’s workforce, placing Edo at the top of the sub-national rankings.

Okungbowa said: “Mr. Governor has approved the Graduate Development Programme

(GDP) that brings together First Class graduates and high-grade degrees into the service

with a view to developing and ensuring quality manpower in the system.

“Mr. Governor has approved it. He approved the policy of bringing in First Class

graduates into the Edo State Civil and Public Service. He believes that the

policy will help the State bring in top quality talents into the system.

“It is not just bringing them in but also retaining them because retaining them is one of the

major challenges facing the programme.

“Mr. Governor is intentional about bringing them in and retaining these top-level talents in the

service. The Governor is using this medium to urge all First Class graduates from Edo

extraction across all universities in Nigeria and abroad to come over as they will have

automatic employment. We are looking at the younger graduates from 2020, but Mr.

Governor may extend that”.

According to Okungbowa: “We are happy about this and appreciate the Governor because

through this, the service will have quality talents in the system.

“For everyone in that programme, they are moved around various Ministries, Departments

and Agencies and plans are also on to move them to the private sector to gather more

experiences after which they will bring such experiences to bear, to improve the system, to

contribute to the development of the State”.

Okungbowa added: “Sustainability depends on you and me since the political will is there

and I am happy because it is the direction of government. We are partnering with Edo

Innovate to ensure improvement in the programme”.