The Edo State government has declared a significant shift in its civil service appointment policy, announcing that permanent secretary positions will now be filled strictly based on merit rather than political imposition.
New Direction for Civil Service Appointments
Deputy Governor Hon. Dennis Idahosa made this groundbreaking announcement while presiding over an expanded breakfast meeting of the Head of Service with Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the New Festival Hall, Edo State Government House.
Idahosa emphasized that the discontinuation of non-career permanent secretary appointments and the implementation of merit-based selections would facilitate smooth career progression and significantly boost civil servants' morale. He declared that the era of appointing non-career civil servants as permanent secretaries has officially ended.
Commitment to Professional Civil Service
The Deputy Governor stated that the administration led by Senator Monday Okpebholo is firmly committed to ensuring that the state civil service is run exclusively by professionals. "There was a time when consultants were used as permanent secretaries in the state," Idahosa recalled. "Governor Monday Okpebholo changed this narrative, and many civil servants have been elevated to positions of permanent secretaries."
Idahosa assured civil servants of job progression opportunities, pointing out that the current administration is dedicated to correcting perceived wrongs of previous governments. He stressed that the governor's SHINE Agenda cannot succeed without the active input and impact of dedicated civil servants.
Building Synergy Through Direct Communication
The breakfast meeting provided a crucial platform for direct communication between political leadership and state civil servants, aimed at building synergy to improve the workforce. "We are all gathered to discuss the importance of collaboration and synergy between the political executive and the civil service machinery for effective service delivery in Edo State," Idahosa stated.
He described the expanded meeting as "a testament to our shared commitment to harness our collective strengths and expertise to deliver impactful results." The Deputy Governor further explained the critical relationship between political leadership and civil service, noting that "while the political class provides the will, vision, and direction, the civil service provides the institutional memory, strength, expertise, and implementation capacity."
Idahosa called for leveraging each other's strengths, experiences, and skills to drive progress and prosperity in Edo State, urging collaborative efforts to identify and address bottlenecks, streamline processes, and enhance productivity. He assured civil servants of the government's necessary support and enabling environment for excellence.
Administrative Reforms and Recognition
On his part, the state's Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, expressed gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for his continuous support of the state's civil service. He noted that the meeting provided valuable dialogue opportunities to identify strengths and weaknesses on both sides.
Dr. Okungbowa outlined three key administrative strategies the state civil service is implementing to ensure effectiveness:
- Directorate of research and policy, focused on building data and evidence-based administration
- Mentorship programs designed to develop competent civil servants in continuous authority projection
- Intentional, role-enabled mentorship to ensure succession planning
"Success without a successor is a failure," Okungbowa emphasized, highlighting the importance of systematic mentorship. He also revealed that the service has introduced several awards to enhance workforce productivity and recognize outstanding performance.
