…Says Civil Service Remains Institutional Memory of Government
By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has praised the State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, describing him as one of the smartest individuals he has met and commending his dedication to public service reforms.
The Governor made the remarks during the presentation and launch of Dr. Okungbowa’s book, Rebuilding the Nigerian Civil Service: A Reformer’s Perspective, held in Benin City, where he was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor.
Governor Okpebholo noted that the book identifies critical challenges facing the Nigerian Civil Service and provides practical solutions for addressing inefficiencies, institutional weaknesses, and governance concerns.
He emphasized that the Civil Service serves as the institutional memory of government, ensuring continuity in policy implementation and preserving institutional knowledge across successive administrations.
The Governor stated that meaningful reforms must go beyond digitalization to include the restoration of values, ethics, and positive attitudes among public servants to achieve sustainable transformation.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to public sector development, he highlighted ongoing efforts to improve civil servants’ welfare, enhance capacity building, and create an enabling environment for effective service delivery.
Senator Okpebholo also showcased Edo State’s digital transformation initiatives, particularly the development of the state-owned electronic governance platform, Edo Cloud, aimed at ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability in government operations.
Chairperson of the occasion and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated Dr. Okungbowa and described him as intelligent, objective, impartial, and deeply committed to institutional development.
She observed that the book’s emphasis on digital governance aligns with ongoing federal reforms, stressing that the future of public administration is digital, transparent, data-driven, and responsive.
Dr. Walson-Jack further commended Governor Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa for implementing the SHINE Agenda and noted that the Civil Service remains the vehicle through which government policies are translated into tangible benefits for citizens.
In his welcome address, Dr. Okungbowa explained that the book was inspired by his practical experiences in public service and addresses challenges such as bureaucracy, corruption, political interference, low morale, skill gaps, and outdated administrative systems.
He described the publication as a roadmap for building a modern, accountable, and people-centred Civil Service, while expressing gratitude to Governor Okpebholo, Dr. Walson-Jack, his family, colleagues, and other contributors. The event attracted senior government officials, academics, development partners, traditional leaders, and civil servants from across the country.