Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has said that the appointment of permanent secretaries in the state civil service will now be based on merit.

In a statement on Thursday by the Deputy Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa noted that such appointments would no longer be based on imposition.

According to the statement, Idahosa made the declaration when he presided over a breakfast meeting that had the Head of Service, heads of ministries, departments, and agencies in attendance at the New Festival Hall, Edo State Government House, on Thursday.

The deputy governor further noted that the era of appointing non-career civil servants as permanent secretaries was over.

He said the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration was committed to allowing the state civil service to be run purely by professionals.

Idahosa explained that discontinuing the appointment of non-career permanent secretaries, as well as adopting merit-based appointments of permanent secretaries, would allow for smooth career progression and boost the morale of civil servants.

He said, “There was a time consultants were used as permanent secretaries in the state. Governor Monday Okpebholo changed this narrative, and many civil servants have been elevated to positions of permanent secretaries.

“The appointment of permanent secretaries in the state civil service will now be based on merit. Such appointments will no longer be based on imposition, and career civil servants will be given the opportunity to assume the position.”

Idahosa assured them of job progression, noting that the administration was on the ground to right perceived wrongs of previous administrations.

He pointed out that the SHINE Agenda of the governor could not succeed without the input and impact of civil servants.

He said the breakfast meeting provided an opportunity for direct communication between the political leadership and civil servants in the state to build synergy on how to make the workforce better.

He added, “The interface between the political class and the civil service is critical to achieving our goals.

“While the political class provides the will, vision and direction, the civil service provides the institutional memory, strength, expertise and implementation capacity.

“Let us leverage each other’s strengths, experiences, and skills to drive progress and prosperity in Edo State. Let us work together to identify and address bottlenecks, streamline processes, and enhance productivity.”

He assured them of the government’s support and the provision of an enabling environment for them to excel.

On his part, the state’s Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa, thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for his continuous support of the state’s civil service.

He said the meeting provided an avenue for dialogue and an opportunity to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Okungbowa listed three administrative strategies the state civil service is deploying to ensure effectiveness.

“Directorate of Research and Policy, channelled towards building a data and evidence-based administration; mentorship, meant to build a string of competent civil servants in an unbroken projection of authority to help manage the workforce and manage their roles effectively.

“Lastly, success without a successor is a failure. We need intentional mentorship, which is role and rule-enabled.”

He said the service had introduced a number of awards to enhance the productivity of the workforce.

Permanent secretaries are the highest-ranking career civil servants in state ministries, departments, and agencies, responsible for implementing government policies and ensuring continuity within the civil service.

In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has emphasised merit-based appointments for permanent secretaries and other senior civil service positions.

The government has publicly ended the practice of appointing non-career civil servants to these roles, with career officers now being prioritised for promotion. This initiative is part of broader reforms under the SHINE Agenda, which focuses on strengthening professionalism, building capacity within the civil service, and improving service delivery.