Governor Monday Okpebholo has announced an increase in the minimum wage for Edo State workers from ₦70,000 to ₦75,000, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of public sector employees.
The governor made the announcement during his May Day address at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Thursday, May 1.
“Today, I am proud to announce that our administration has approved a new minimum wage of ₦75,000 per month for Edo workers. It’s our way of saying thank you. We believe this will make a real difference, and in return, we count on your renewed dedication as we build a better Edo together,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo outlined a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the state workforce. These include the regularization of over 1,000 casual workers—many of whom had served for years without job security—into the core civil service. Additionally, 500 new teachers have been hired to ease classroom pressure, and the status of over 3,000 casual teachers is under review for full employment.
In the health sector, the state approved the recruitment of 450 clinical and non-clinical staff for state hospitals and regularized 126 contract staff at the Edo State Specialist Hospital, enhancing both healthcare delivery and job security.
The governor also noted that his administration had cleared all outstanding salary arrears owed to staff at Edo State Polytechnic. In the judiciary, previously delayed judicial appointments have been resolved, and the appointed judges are now fully operational.
Okpebholo emphasized that the government’s responsibility to its workforce extends beyond active service, revealing that health insurance coverage has been approved for retirees.
“We believe our duty to workers does not end when they retire. Our retirees deserve to live with dignity, and access to healthcare is part of that,” he concluded.
