By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
The Edo State Government’s commitment to reforms aimed at enshrining transparency, integrity and accountability within its Public Service has continued to attract support with the latest coming from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC).
The Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, on behalf of the State Government while playing host to the RoLAC delegation, underscored the State Government’s readiness to continue to institutionalize modern and people-centered governance reforms, submitting that the current administration, led by Senator Monday Okpebholo has embraced the responsibility of fostering a public service culture defined by transparency, integrity and professionalism.
Dr. Okungbowa stated that Governor Okpebholo is focused on deepening good governance through reform strategies that empower Civil and Public servants while ensuring that service delivery to residents remains effective and transparent. He emphasized that Government officials are not just public officers but custodians of the people’s trust and as such, must remain accountable. He added that the administration’s priority is to realign the Public Service for efficiency through initiatives such as the soon-to-be-unveiled Edo State Public Service Re-tooling and Enhancement Programme (EDO-PREP).
The HOS stated, “We are grateful for RoLAC’s support in helping us strengthen the blocks needed to serve our people effectively. In reality, the people are our masters and our obligation is to deliver quality services to them without excuses. As a lawyer and a reformist, these Initiatives resonate naturally with me. We are not doing anything extraordinary; we are simply upholding what is right.” He clarified that the Government’s reform efforts are not driven by mere obligation but by a shared belief in institutional change.
Dr. Okungbowa acknowledged the initial delay in institutionalizing some of the initiatives proposed by RoLAC due to administrative processes necessitated by the transition but assured that with the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Governor Okpebholo’s mandate, the administration is ready to fully engage. “Now that all is settled, we are back on our feet, ready to fire on all cylinders,” he affirmed.
Describing EDO-PREP as a strategic continuation and improvement of existing reform frameworks, the HOS explained stated, “EDO-PREP is a realignment, not a deviation. We’re retooling to enhance productivity and focus on short-term wins, long-term results, and full accountability.”
The Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Corporate Change Communication and Performance Management, Office of the Head of Service, Dr. Joy Akhigbe added that the EDO-PREP initiative offers a strategic blueprint focused on improving efficiency and service delivery across the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). She asserted, “This five-year strategic plan spanning 2025 to 2030 we are working on will articulate specific policy directions and detailed implementation frameworks across the Service.”
The Head of Programme, RoLAC, Mr. Danladi Plang, commended the Edo State Government’s consistent support and progress across multiple reform areas and solicited for actions to be expedited in institutionalizing other proposed reforms, saying, “The milestones reached in areas like the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Disability Rights Law show true ownership. Edo State Government has scaled up some of our initiatives beyond RoLAC’s initial interventions and that is very commendable but there are still more ahead of us that we need to also focus on and implement. As you know it is a comprehensive programme.”
The Anti-Corruption Manager at RoLAC, Dr. Emmanuel Uche, reiterated the value of Edo State as a “Capital for reforms”, expressing optimism on the continuation of the legacy. He recommended the importance of adopting the Edo State’s Integrity and Accountability Strategy, describing it as a comprehensive framework for sustainable anti-corruption efforts.
Dr. Uche explained, “Despite delays, Edo has managed to surpass expectations and it is important to note that in all of these institutional efforts, the Civil Service remains central to this success. Without their commitment, reforms cannot take root. The Edo State Integrity and Accountability Strategy mandates every MDA to establish Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs), where we can have actors who could cascade policies and give periodic reports, thus, serving as the nucleus for transparency and accountability at all levels.”
Highlighting the broader vision, Dr. Uche connected EDO-PREP to RoLAC’s Service Delivery Transparency Initiative, which he said aims to develop actionable frameworks for real-time performance tracking. He concluded, “We are excited about EDO-PREP because it mirrors our focus. We have an initiative that seeks to deliver hands on systems, structure over layered oversight processes; wherein on your system here, you can monitor what is happening service wide, and have systems in place where performance reports come to you, especially starting with service windows like hospitals, education centres, payment centres. Institutions where services can be rendered to citizens in a way they can feel the impact of government and how things are changing; all of these on a real time basis.”
The Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa (capped); L-R: the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Corporate Change Communication and Performance Management, Office of the Head of Service, Dr. Joy Akhigbe; the Head of Programme, RoLAC, Mr. Danladi Plang; and the Anti-Corruption Manager of RoLAC, Dr. Emmanuel Uche; during a meeting with the HOS at the Government House in Benin City.
