No Room For Complacency, Okpebholo Tells Civil Servants At Strategic Retreat
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged civil and public service leaders to embrace discipline, teamwork and measurable results, declaring that his administration will be anchored on performance and accountability.
He gave the charge at the opening of a three-day Orientation and Strategic Leadership Retreat for top government officials at Udomi Town Hall in Esan Central Local Government Area.
The retreat, themed “High Performing Public Service for Sustainable Development of Edo State,” is the first since the inauguration of the Okpebholo administration and is aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery.
Okpebholo said the gathering was not a social event but a strategic engagement focused on orientation and capacity building for senior officials.
He explained that the programme was designed to reposition the administration for effective service delivery, enhance collaboration across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and deepen understanding of governance processes under the SHINE Agenda.
The governor stressed that good governance requires collective responsibility, noting that no ministry or appointee can succeed in isolation. He warned against using public office for personal gain, insisting that every policy and expenditure must deliver measurable value.
According to him, the retreat signals a new phase in Edo’s governance style, with greater emphasis on discipline, accountability, performance monitoring and tangible results. He added that officials’ performance would determine their standing in the administration.
Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, highlighted the philosophy of “Edo is building Edo” and presented Project S.H.I.N.E as the state’s development blueprint, while Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okhungbowa, expressed optimism that the retreat would strengthen leadership capacity and improve service delivery.
