Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has made history by swearing in the state’s first visually impaired Permanent Secretary, Mr. Melody Omosah, alongside 19 others.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Festival Hall of the Government House in Benin City, also featured the inauguration of two commissioners and seven members of the Governing Council of the Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, the appointments followed a transparent and rigorous selection process.
Governor Okpebholo said only the most qualified candidates emerged after a highly competitive exercise involving about 250 civil servants.
“Today is a special day for all of you who have reached the pinnacle of your civil service careers. About 250 officers sat for the examination. I met with 25 candidates, but only 20 were successful,” the governor said.
He noted that the appointments reflected his administration’s commitment to merit, excellence and due process rather than favouritism, adding that the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, had confirmed the competence of the newly appointed permanent secretaries.
The governor also warned the new permanent secretaries against acting on directives falsely attributed to him, urging them to always verify any instruction through the appropriate channels.
“This administration believes in due process. Be careful not to act on claims that ‘the governor said so.’ If you are uncertain about any directive, seek clarification from me or through the Head of Service,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo further reassured members of the Igbo community and other ethnic groups of equal opportunities in his administration, stressing that there would be no discrimination in appointments.
“There is no discrimination in Edo. We are building an inclusive government, and there will be more opportunities for all groups in due course,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries, Melody Omosah thanked the governor for the appointment and pledged their commitment to implementing the administration’s policies and programmes.
Also speaking, newly sworn-in Commissioner Martin Oli, the first non-indigenous commissioner in the Okpebholo administration, said appointments under the governor were based on competence, integrity and capacity rather than ethnic or regional considerations.
