By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
When Senator Monday Okpebholo assumed office as Governor of Edo State on 12th November, 2024, expectations were high but the window for decisive action was narrow. Coming in barely weeks to the end of the year, many believed the new administration would need time to settle, recalibrate and gradually ease into governance. Yet, from the very outset, the Governor made it clear that leadership, for him, would be defined not by excuses but by action.
One of the earliest tests of that resolve was the fate of the 13th month salary for civil and public servants. With a new government barely settling in and major reforms already underway, uncertainty loomed. Would the much-anticipated 13th month salary be paid or would workers have to wait yet another year?
Those doubts were swiftly dispelled. In what has now become a defining hallmark of his administration, Governor Okpebholo approved and ensured the payment of the 13th month salary to all state workers in December 2024—barely weeks after assuming office. It was a decision that spoke volumes, one rooted not in political convenience, but in genuine concern for the welfare of those who keep government running.
That gesture, however, was only the beginning. Since then, the Governor has consistently demonstrated that his commitment to workers is not symbolic but structural. Salaries have been paid promptly, often before the 26th of every month. The minimum wage was upwardly reviewed from ₦70,000 to ₦75,000 without pressure from labour unions—an unprecedented move that underscored the administration’s proactive approach to workers’ welfare.
For many civil servants, these actions marked a turning point. What was once seen as routine government obligation has evolved into a culture of respect, responsibility and responsiveness.
As the year once again draws to a close, Governor Okpebholo has reinforced this growing trust by approving and ensuring the prompt payment of the 13th month salary for the second consecutive time. For workers who had quietly wondered whether the previous year’s payment was a one-off gesture, this latest development has erased all doubt.
The Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, captured the mood across the service when he described the Governor’s actions as a reflection of uncommon leadership and sincerity. According to him, the consistency of these interventions carried out without agitation or industrial pressure has restored confidence in governance and renewed morale across ministries, departments and agencies.
Indeed, what makes this moment particularly significant is not just the payment itself, but what it represents. In an era where public servants often feel overlooked, the Monday Okpebholo-led administration has chosen a different path—one that recognizes the civil service as the engine room of governance and treats its workforce as partners in progress.
For many Edo workers, the message is now unmistakable: their labour is seen, their sacrifices acknowledged, and their welfare prioritized.