Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor of Edo State on Thursday approved a new minimum wage of N75,000 monthly to workers in the State’s civil and public services.
The new minimum wage was N5000 higher than the N70,000 approved by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki in 2024.
Okpebholo announced the new minimum wage at his May Day speech at the Samuel Stadium in Benin City.
He said the new minimum wage of N75,000 monthly to workers in the state public service was to ensure that the workers are treated with dignity and fairness.
He, however, expressed hope that the workers would appreciate the gesture with renewed dedication as they both built a better Edo state together.
According to him, to ensure that those workers are treated with dignity and fairness. Today, I am proud to announce that our administration has approved a new minimum wage of N75,000 only.
“It is our way of saying thank you. We believe that this will make a real difference, And in return, we can count on your renewed dedication as we build a better Edo together”, he said.
The governor also announced plans to regularize the appointment of over 3000 EdoStar Teachers from casual to permanent staff, saying that his administration is reviewing the process of the regularisation.
While adding that his administration is reviewing the regularisation of the appointment of over 3000 EdoStars teachers, he said the decision was to ensure that the teachers have full employment and no more casual workers.
Stallion Times reports that the teachers were employed by the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki as casual workers.
The Governor also reeled out his administration achievements in the past five months in office to include the conversion of many casual workers, including over 1,000 cleaners into permanent staff.
He said the causal workers who had for years had no job security would now with the approval have peace of mind and stability in their various fields.
“In the education sector, we hired 500 teachers to ease classroom pressure and help students learn better.
“Because of every effort to shaping our children’s future matters. We are taking a similar stand in the health centers. We approved the recruitment of 450 clinical and non-clinical staff for our state hospitals and regularized 126 contract staff at Edo Specialist Hospital.
“Those steps are always to strengthen our health sector but to also improve job stability for our health professionals.
“Furthermore, we cleared all outstanding salaries arrears owed to our polytechnic staff.
“And in the judiciary, we make sure that judges who have been delayed in their appointment were properly sworn in and are now fully carrying out their duties.
“To show that our commitment does not end at that. We have also approved health insurance coverage for our retirees. Because we believe that our responsibility to workers does not end when they leave active services.
“We will continue to do more because we understand that motivated and supported workers and the workforce are essential to the success of our state”, he said.
Okpebholo assured the workers that his administration remained committed to the timely payment of salary and steady recruitment when needed to improve service delivery, staff welfare and development.
Earlier in his address, the Acting State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Bernard Joma Eguakhide appealed to the Governor to regularize the appointment of the over 3000 Edo Star Teachers, EdoStar who are currently on temporary appointment.
“It is true that the Edo State government has spent a huge sum of money to train and retrain these categories of teachers during the immediate past administration of Edo State.
“And, it will be most appropriate to absorb them into the main civil service, having acquired cognate teaching experience over the years”, he added.
Eguakhide, also appealed for the immediate constitution of the State civil service commission, noting that the non- constitution and inauguration of the commission is adversely affecting the career progression of workers in the civil/public service.
He, however, decried the shortage of workers in the State’s Council for Art and Culture, saying that the council that used to have over 2000 staff is now left with just about eight staff
He posited that the shortage of staff have been preventing the council from attending National Festival for Art and Culture and other National and International cultural and Art events.
“Sir, we wish to bring to your notice that the academic and non academic staff of the then College of Education, Ekiadolor, were owed salaries arrears for years before the institution was upgraded to the status of Federal College of Technical Education.
“These categories of workers have been denied access to civil space for years even in the midst of economic hardship”, he added.
