By Newsmata
It was a huge relief for civil and public servants in Edo State on Friday as Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the cheering news that he would be paying 13th month salary this December.
Doubts had been expressed within the state’s workforce as to whether the governor would sustain the payment of the 13th month salary introduced last year by his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki. The gesture was extended to the pensioners also. The December salary was paid on the 15th while the 13th month came on the 26th.
The extra month salary was approved May 8, 2023, by the ex-governor at the request of workers, and was announced when he interacted with civil and public servants between grade levels 8 and 17 at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City.
In addition to the 13th month salary, Governor Okpebholo also announced the continuation of automatic employment for first class graduates of Edo origin from universities at home and abroad “to boost the quality of manpower in the system”.
Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, in a statement, said the government is intentional in bringing them in and retaining them.
The statement said “Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has graciously approved the payment of the “13th month” salary for Edo State workers. The Governor has also approved the policy of automatic employment for First Class graduates of Edo extraction from any university in Nigeria and abroad into the state civil service to boost the quality of manpower in the system.
He said the Graduate Development Programme (GDP) “is to ensure that quality manpower is brought into the system for effective and efficient service delivery that will enhance growth and development”.
According to Dr. Okungbowa, “Mr. Governor is doing this to serve as motivation for workers as they are ready to put in their best now. 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 that the policy of bringing in First Class graduates into the Edo State Civil and Public Service be approved. 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 employments. We are looking at the younger graduates from 2020, but Mr. Governor may extend that. 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 round 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.
“Sustainability depends on you and I 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”.