By Agbongiasede Gloria Uhunoma
Following the just concluded recruitment exercise by Edo State Government to absorb more competent hands into the civil and public service in the state, the office of the Head of Service in collaboration with the Directorate of Human Resources has held a one-day orientation exercise for the new recruits, prequel to their official onboarding into the civil and public service.
Speaking at the event, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., noted that the recruitment of the officers was merit-based.
According to Okungbowa, “For the first time in the civil and public service, we have a Governor who is interested and has ensured that everything that has been done concerning the employment exercise is merit-based from the beginning to the end.
“Since this Governor came in, every employment process we have carried out, he has not recommended one person. He said to me, ‘go and do it on merit’, and that is why today we can boast that it was strictly based on merit. So you came here not because you knew anybody but because you deserved to be here”.
Commenting on the responsibility before the newly recruited officers, Okungbowa said: “There is a huge responsibility on your shoulders. They say, to whom much is given, much is expected. So having come in here on merit, we expect that the civil and public service will be much better with you being part of it.
“In the past, people learned not to do things on merit, and they learned that if they had one or two people in the system they would progress rapidly; there was no need for hard work. But that dynamics change. And for us, where you go, how you progress, and what level you get to are all influenced by how much work you can do and how diligent and hardworking you are. Therefore, we expect that you will put in your best effort into your work”.
Also present at the event was the Managing Director of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Ms. Precious Imuwahen Ajoonu, who acquainted the new recruits with the amount of trainings to expect from the state government, as the service has transitioned from a transactional service to a strategic one.
Ajoonu said: “The service is returning to the foundations of what it means to work for the government, what we hope to accomplish, and what public policies are and why they are important, and it is expected that those who work for the government should be familiar with these topics”.
A newly recruited officer, Mr. kelvin Orue, appreciated the Governor for the opportunity to serve. According to Orue “I appreciate the Governor and the exquisite team he has around him. It is critical to have a government that listens to the yearnings and aspirations of its people and Governor Obaseki’s administration has always striven to build strong institutions”.
Ms. Mercy Ogbomo, also one of the recruits, expressed delight in the new development as regards staff recruitment in the State. Ogbomo said: “when I got the call for the interview, I thought it was business as usual; where it is based on who you know. I thank the Governor for setting a new standard in the Edo State Government workforce”.
A total of 219 officers were employed into the civil and public service from the just concluded recruitment exercise.
