Civil servants in Edo State have expressed their gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo for the timely payment of the 13th-month salary, which they describe as a significant morale booster. Journalists visiting the Edo State Secretariat and various ministries, including the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, and the Ministry of Education, gathered positive feedback from workers who confirmed they received the payment.
At the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Rose Imonikhe, the Director of Orientation, shared her surprise and appreciation upon receiving the alert for the 13th-month salary. She emphasized that this financial boost would help alleviate the financial pressures many workers face during the festive season. “This Christmas period, most people must have spent their December salaries,” she noted, highlighting that the extra payment would assist in covering school fees and rent renewals.
Mrs. Imonikhe also encouraged civil servants to reciprocate the governor’s gesture by committing to their roles, stating, “He is in a haste to deliver the dividends of democracy, and the civil service is the channel through which this can be achieved.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by other civil servants at the Ministry of Lands and Housing, who praised the payment as a demonstration of the government’s concern for workers’ welfare. At the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, the Director of Administration, Mrs. Egbe Jocy, remarked that the initiative would enhance morale and productivity within the civil service.
Overall, many civil servants agree that the payment of the 13th-month salary has provided relief and renewed confidence in the government’s commitment to a people-centered approach to governance. Governor Okpebholo implemented this salary initiative shortly after taking office in November 2024, reflecting his focus on improving the welfare of state employees.
