Okpebholo’s payment of 13-month salary excites Edo Civil Servants

Civil servants in the employment of the Edo State Government have expressed excitement over the payment of a 13-month salary by Governor Monday Okpebholo, describing the gesture as timely and morale-boosting.

A statement by Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to  Governor Okpebholo and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin City
said the credit alert came to them as a pleasant surprise.

Read also: Edo bullish on revenue as state IGR hits ₦100bn

One of the workers, Rose Imonikhe, the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy noted that the payment would ease financial pressure on workers during the festive season and beyond.

Imonikhe, stated that she was woken up by the credit alert for the payment of the 13th-month salary on Tuesday morning, December 30, 2025.

According to her, I woke up this morning, it was the alert that woke me up, the 13th-month salary. I’m grateful to the governor for what he has done. You can see me smiling, and that is how other officers in the Edo State civil service are smiling.

“This Christmas period, most people must have spent their December salaries. So this will help them enter the new year with something in their pockets. Those with children’s school fees to pay can do so without stress, and others who are renewing rents will also benefit. This 13th-month salary will go very far.

“The governor has played his part; it is left for civil servants to do theirs by being more committed. He is in a haste to deliver the dividends of democracy, and the civil service is the channel through which this can be achieved,” she said.

Other workers which included Beatrice Ihulde, Precious Abu, Bridget Igbinovia and Onyinyechi Florence of the Ministry of Lands and Housing, while also confirming the receipt of a credit alert, commended the state government for the payment.

Read also: The high cost of political score-settling: How Edo turmoil scares away investment

The workers described the payment as a clear demonstration of the Governor Okpebholo-led government’s concern for workers’ welfare.

On her part, Egbe Jocy, the Director of Administration,  Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, who also commended the government, added that the initiative would strengthen morale and productivity across the service.

Other civil servants opined that the gesture has brought relief and renewed confidence in the government’s people-centred approach to governance.

It would be recalled that shortly after assuming office in November 2024, Governor Okpebholo implemented the 13th-month salary payment for civil service in the state.