Edo State Government Earns Praise for Pro-Worker Policies and Reforms
Benin City — As Nigeria celebrated Workers’ Day, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, has hailed Governor Monday Okpebholo as a truly workers-friendly leader, citing a series of reforms and policies aimed at improving the welfare and conditions of civil servants in the state.
In a statement issued in Benin City, Ohonbamu emphasized that the success or failure of any administration often rests on the efficiency of its civil service — the core engine of governance. He commended Governor Okpebholo for recognizing this early and making deliberate efforts to empower and support the state’s workforce.
According to the Commissioner, the Okpebholo administration has not only increased the state minimum wage from N70,000 to N75,000 but has also prioritized job security by converting over 1,000 casual workers, including cleaners, into full-time civil servants.
“In addition, 500 new teachers have been employed to reduce pressure in classrooms, and efforts are ongoing to regularize the employment of over 3,000 Edo STAR teachers whose contributions are shaping the future of our children,” he noted.
The government has also approved the recruitment of 450 clinical and non-clinical staff for state hospitals, and 126 contract staff at the Edo State Specialist Hospital have been regularized. Salary arrears owed to Edo Polytechnic staff have been cleared, while judges previously delayed in their appointments have now been properly sworn in.
Importantly, the administration has extended health insurance coverage to retirees and is actively settling pensions and gratuities — a gesture that underscores Governor Okpebholo’s belief that workers deserve dignity both in service and in retirement.
Ohonbamu stated that these actions have made the Okpebholo-led government a darling of the Edo workforce. During the May Day celebration in Benin, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) praised the governor for policies that cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.
Speaking at the event, the Acting NLC Chairman in Edo State, Comrade Bernard Egwakhide, said: “In just six months, Governor Okpebholo has surpassed our expectations. His administration has implemented critical interventions that protect workers’ rights and improve their quality of life.”
The workers also extended gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting infrastructure development in the state, including the ongoing construction of the first flyover and the approval of a second, alongside rehabilitation of key federal roads.
Ohonbamu concluded by urging Edo workers and the larger civil society to continue supporting the administration. “Governor Okpebholo is clearly committed to giving workers their due. As he uplifts the state, it is only right that we all play our part in building a better Edo,” he said.
