In a bid to enhance the physical fitness of civil servants, the Edo state government has through the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa has launched a nine-member Service Fitness Committee, responsible for coordinating and ensuring a seamless take-off of the monthly physical fitness exercise for Civil and Public Servants in the State.
This initiative, as part of the Edo State Public Service Retooling and Enhancement Programme (Edo-PREP), is aimed to foster a healthy, motivated, and high-performing workforce capable of driving the Government’s development agenda.
While speaking during the inauguration ceremony, which was hosted at the Government House in Benin City, Dr. Okungbowa explained that the fitness programme was birthed as an innovative module under Edo-PREP to strengthen the capacity of the Public Service as the engine of Government. He added that the initiative was designed to improve the overall well-being and productivity of workers, noting that physical fitness directly correlates with efficiency and service delivery.
According to him, “The Civil Service remains the engine that drives governance. However, when that engine is defaulted, the vehicle of Government cannot perform optimally. Therefore , there was sskk to need to ensure that the Service as that engine is healthy, agile, and fit enough to deliver on Senator Monday Okpebholo’s mandate”
He added, “A Civil Service that is not physically fit cannot deliver quality governance. This fitness initiative, therefore, is meant to enhance the wellness of officers and help Government achieve its SHINE Agenda. We want to build a workforce that is strong, healthy and highly productive. A fit body often correlates with a fit mind, and both are essential for effective service delivery”.
The Head of Service further explained that while physical fitness should ideally be a daily practice, many officers lack the orientation or opportunity to engage in regular exercise. The monthly fitness sessions, he said, will therefore provide an institutional platform for staff to participate in coordinated physical and wellness activities.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Dr. Peter Osagie, Permanent Secretary, assured that the Committee would work collectively to design and implement engaging, inclusive and sustainable fitness activities that would attract wide participation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Dr. Osagie affirmed the importance of regular exercise to productivity, adding that a healthy workforce is essential for the achievement of the State’s developmental goals.
