Civil servants in Edo State have received a significant end-of-year boost with the payment of their 13th-month salary, a policy initiative that has garnered widespread praise for the state administration.
Timely Payment Boosts Worker Morale
The payment was confirmed to have been made on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Governor Monday Okpebholo's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Patrick Ebojele, stated that the decision aligns with the administration's steadfast commitment to the welfare of public servants. He emphasized that the initiative was designed to provide financial relief and reinforce confidence within the state's workforce during a period of rising living costs.
A Sustained Welfare Policy
This marks the continuation of a policy first introduced by Governor Monday Okpebholo shortly after he assumed office in November 2024. According to officials, the 13th-month salary is a strategic measure intended to improve morale and encourage higher productivity among civil servants. The sustained payment into the current year demonstrates the government's dedication to its people-focused governance approach.
Reactions from beneficiaries across various ministries and departments have been overwhelmingly positive. Many workers described the additional income as both unexpected and timely, coming right after the Christmas festivities when financial resources are often stretched thin.
Workers Express Gratitude and Relief
Mrs. Rose Imonikhe, the Director of Orientation at the Ministry of Information and Strategy, shared her experience, noting she was pleasantly awakened by the payment alert. "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," she told journalists.
She highlighted that the extra funds would help families manage post-holiday expenses such as school fees, rent renewals, and other pressing needs. "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," Imonikhe added.
Echoing this sentiment, Egbe Jocy, the Director of Administration at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, praised the government. He stated that the initiative would significantly enhance morale and support greater productivity across the entire civil service, motivating workers to improve their performance in support of the administration's goals.
The successful implementation of this welfare policy stands as a key achievement for the Okpebholo administration, strengthening its relationship with the state's workforce as it moves into the new year.
