Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved automatic employment for First Class graduates from Edo State, irrespective of whether they graduated from Nigerian or foreign universities.
This move is part of an initiative to enhance the quality of manpower in the state civil service.
In addition, the Governor has also approved the payment of the “13th month” salary to the state’s workers, an incentive aimed at boosting morale and productivity.
Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, the Edo State Head of Service (HOS), made this announcement in a statement issued to the press on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua.
The new Graduate Development Programme (GDP) is designed to bring top-quality talents into the state civil service for improved service delivery, which will foster growth and development within Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo’s initiative seeks to motivate workers by ensuring that only the best talents join the state workforce. Okungbowa emphasized that the governor’s goal extends beyond recruitment; retaining these skilled individuals is a crucial challenge the program aims to address.
“It is not just about bringing them in, but also about retaining them, which is one of the major challenges we face,” Okungbowa explained.
The governor has specifically encouraged all First Class graduates from Edo State to come forward for automatic employment. The initiative currently targets graduates from 2020, though there is potential for an extension to other recent graduates.
“We are excited about this development and appreciate the Governor’s efforts, as it will bring quality talents into the system,” Okungbowa stated.
As part of the GDP, the graduates will rotate through various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Plans are also underway to move them to the private sector for additional experience, which they will then bring back to the civil service, further contributing to the state’s development.
