The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Saturday, said his administration will work assiduously to fix the state’s civil service in order to meet the expectations of Edo people for quality and efficient service delivery.
The governor made the submission during the Thanksgiving Service held in honour of the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, at the Divine Sisters Brothers Prayer Ministry, in Benin City, the state capital.
The governor said his administration has been unequivocal in its mandate to reform the civil service, noting: “The people expect us to tar more roads, improve the school system from basic education through to the Senior Secondary School level. They expect better healthcare. All these can only be possible when the civil service is efficient.
“The appointment of the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, was a deliberate choice. We knew that we had to renew the civil service. That was why we made that choice to have him as the Head of Service.
“When we were making the decision on his appointment, I knew in my mind that it was a historic decision. Today, Okungbowa happens to be the youngest Head of Service ever appointed in Edo State.
The governor expressed appreciation to the General Overseer of Divine Sisters Brothers Prayer Ministry, Mrs. Christy Izekor, for being the spiritual guide to the head of service.
“You have to pray for him. The church should continue to pray for him. I have gone through my own issues and battles and God has seen me through. He is going to go through major issues and challenges. This is because we are asking a young man to come and transform a very old system.
“There will be a lot of resistance. There will be a lot of anger. People will ask ‘why are things different in your time?’ They will not realize that the world has changed,” Obaseki said.
In his remarks, Okungbowa commended the governor for his support, noting that he would make sure to surpass the governor’s expectations.
“Mr. Governor has always given us his support. That is the most important thing. With the support of your boss, there is no limit to what you can do,” he said.
