Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has assured residents that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo is committed to building a strong and efficient public and civil service to drive effective governance.
Idahosa made this known in a statement released Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, following a courtesy visit by the Forum of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in Benin on Tuesday.
He emphasized the government’s continued efforts to tap into the expertise and institutional memory of the Forum to reform and reposition the state’s bureaucracy for improved performance.
Describing the Forum members as a “think tank and fountain of knowledge,” the deputy governor praised their wealth of experience and their contributions to Edo State’s development. He noted that the legacy of their service remains a benchmark in assessing the role of the civil service in the state’s economic growth.
“On behalf of the governor and the state government, I assure you that we will keep drawing from your valuable experience to strengthen key institutions responsible for building a vibrant economy,” he stated.
The Forum’s Chairman, Usi Osemwowa, said the visit was to congratulate the governor and deputy governor on their recent victory at the election tribunal and to build a collaborative relationship with the current administration.
Osemwowa highlighted the Forum’s steady growth since its establishment in 2018, now boasting over 128 active members. He added that their upcoming annual luncheon in April would include a public health lecture on arthritis, focusing on prevention and treatment.
Also present during the visit were notable members including the first Surveyor General of the defunct Mid-West Region, Sir S. J. Ojeikere; former Head of Service, Princess Ekiuwa Inneh; Prof. Johnson Egonmwan; and Prince M. M. Ogedengbe, Chairman of the Forum’s Board of Trustees.