By Lucky Isibor
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has effected the 2025 promotion exercise for staff of the Edo State Unified Local Government Service with effect from January this year.
The out gone Acting Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission, Evangelist Comrade Francis Akhigbe, made this known while briefing the substantive Chairman of the Commission, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto while handing over the reins of administration of the Commission to him on Wednesday, 20 June at the Commission’s headquarters in Benin City.
Evangelist Comrade Akhigbe pointed out that the promotion was part of the welfare package of the Governor Okpebholo led administration to motivate Local Government staff to enhance service delivery at the grassroots.
Evangelist Comrade Akhigbe, the first member in the Edo State Local Government Service Commission and Commissioner representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the Commission, was appointed the acting Chairman on 6 February, following the suspension of the Chairman, Hon. Damian Lawani.
While enumerating his achievements, Akhide pointed out that on assumption of office he inherited the sum of Twenty – Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand and Sixty Kobo (N22,800,000.60) and is leaving behind the sum of Seventy Five Million, Two Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Nine Naira, FiftyTwo Kobo (N75, 266 759.52).
“The balance in the various banks as – the time I took over stewardship in the Local Government Service Commission had a total sum of Twenty Two Million, Eight Hundred Thousand and Sixty Kobo and I am pleased to remark that through prudent management of finances my administration has been able to deliver critical needs leaving a balance of Seventy Five Million Two Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Nine Naira, FiftyTwo Kobo (75, 266 759.52).”
Akhigbe listed other achievements during the period he acted as, “Fostering unity and harmony among members of staff; Conduct of January 2025 promotion exercise, Appointments of heads of Departments, Training program of selected officers across the Local Government Councils; Production of the 2024 consolidated financial statement, Production of the 2025 Annual Budget, Production of the 2024 Annual Report, Digitalization of uniform staff data (list) showing seniority ongoing; Establishment of Regulatory, Monitoring and Inspection Unit, Opening of a dedicated account for savings; Compendium of operational circulars, Payment of 2025 annual due of N500,000 to the association of Chairmen Local Government Service Commission in Nigeria; Resolution of the crisis rocking NULGE as a result of its election. According to the State NULGE President, I am the first Local Government Service COmmission Chairman to identify with NULGE during the 2025 worker’s day of May 4, 2025”.
Accepting the handover notes, the Chairman of the Commission, Rt. Hon. Kibiru Adjoto thanked the outgone acting Chairman for the experienced manner he handled the administration of the Commission during the period he acted and assured that he would build on the foundation he laid.
He noted that the Local Government was the foundation of development and getting it right at that level means we’ve gotten it right at every level, adding that Governor Okpebholo is very passionate about the development at the grassroots and implored members and staff of the commission to join hands with him to ensure that Local Government Councils in the state deliver prompt and reliable service to the people.
“The Governor is very passionate about developments in the Local Government Areas, he is equally very passionate about the welfare of workers, not just Local Government workers, but the entire workers in the state. It is our responsibility as a Commission to help him achieve this”.
While noting that he was part of the parliamentarians that enacted the local government law presently in operation in the state, Adjoto assured that the Edo State Local Government Law will guide his actions in office as the Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission.
High point of the handing over ceremony was the signing of the hand over documents by the outgone acting Chairman, Evangelist Comrade Francis Akhigbe and the substantive Chairman, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto.
Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto was sworn in on Tuesday, August 19, by Governor Monday Okpebholo as the Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission after the relevant clearance by the Edo State House of Assembly.