Edo State civil servants have expressed  gratitude to Governor Monday Okpebholo after receiving their 13th-month salary, describing the gesture as timely and ‘morale boosting’

Journalists who visited different ministries at the secretariat on Tuesday in Benin City reported that the payment brought significant relief to workers

The Director of Orientation at the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Rose Imonikhe, said that the alert came in as a pleasant surprise.

She said, “I woke up this morning; it was the alert that woke me up; the 13th-month salary – I am grateful to the governor for what he has done. You can see me smiling and that’s how other officers in the state civil service are smiling.”

Ms Imonikhe noted that the payment would ease financial pressure on workers during the festive season and beyond.

At the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Beatrice Ihulde, Precious Abu, Bridget Igbinovia and Onyinyechi Florence, described the payment as a clear demonstration of the state government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

Similarly, at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, the Director of Administration, Egbe Jocy, also commended the government, saying that the initiative would strengthen morale and productivity across the service.

The workers pledged to be more committed to their duties.

Other civil servants echoed similar sentiments, praising the government’s concern for workers’ welfare.

The governor had implemented payment of the 13th-month salary shortly after assuming office on November 12, 2024.

The move boosted confidence and productivity of workers across the state’s civil service.

The gesture renewed confidence in the state’s people-centred approach to governance, with many civil servants pledging to be more committed to their duties.

(NAN)