Towards assuring merit-based promotion and commitment to a transparent and effective service delivery-based Civil Service, the Edo State Government has commenced a one-day training and evaluation exercise for officers between Salary Grade Levels 13 and 16, who have been due for promotion from July, 2023, to January, 2025.
The exercise which held 23rd September, 2025, at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, was organized by the Office of the Head of Service following the constitution and inauguration of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). In his remarks at the exercise, the Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, lauded Governor Monday Okpebholo for approving the promotion examinations, describing him as a pragmatic leader, who is committed to fairness, merit and transparency in governance.
Dr. Okungbowa while admonishing officers to take the training seriously, stated that delayed promotions weaken productivity, lower morale and negatively impact service delivery. He assured that the administration remains focused on institutionalizing a system where officers are rewarded strictly on merit, adding that the exercise was not just about career progression, but about strengthening the Civil Service as a whole to deliver effectively on the State Government’s Project SHINE Agenda.
Appreciating the officers, the HOS said, “Civil Service is the brain box of governance. There is no better way to boost workers’ morale than by ensuring timely, merit-based promotions that recognize their contributions and potential”. He highlighted that the promotion exercise forms part of the government’s ongoing Civil Service reforms, particularly the Edo State Public Service Re-tooling and Enhancement Programme (Edo-PREP), an autonomous initiative that is being developed and implemented by Civil servants.
“Edo-PREP is designed to build a service that is performance-oriented and reward-driven. This initiative, endorsed and approved by the Governor, ensures that promotions are no longer tokens of favour, but earned through training, evaluation and demonstrated competence”. Dr. Okungbowa said.
Participants were taken through series of specialized courses, including the Edo State Public Procurement Law 2020, by Head of Procurement Department, Ministry of Health, Oghogho Omoregie, the Role of Workplace Ethics in the Implementation of the Five Point Agenda (Project SHINE) and the Civil Service Rules by the Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Human Resources, Mrs. B.J Igbinobaro.
The Presentation on Expenditure, Expenditure Control and Payment Process was by the Permanent Secretary/Accountant General, Dr. Julius Anelu, the Work Ethics, Personal Effectiveness, Job Competencies and Productivity was by the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Corporate Change, Communication and Performance Management, Dr. Joy Akhigbe, while an Overview of Edo State Public Service Re-tooling and Enhancement Programme was delivered by Enehikhare Akenzua.
Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
Public Relations Officer
Office of the Head of Service
Edo State
PHOTO CAPTION
The Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, during the 2025 training and evaluation exercise for officers on SGL13-16 ahead of the promotion examination at JOOPSA in Benin City.
