Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the appointment of 4,800 Special Assistants across the state’s wards as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots engagement and ensure that government programmes, development initiatives and opportunities reach communities.
FILE: Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo
Grassroots governance in Edo State is set for a major boost as Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved 4,800 special assistant positions to deepen government presence at the ward level across the state.
The governor announced the approval on Monday during a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 18 local government areas at the Government House, Benin City.
He said the initiative was part of his administration’s commitment to strengthen the APC and ensure that development, opportunities and government programmes extend from the state level to the communities.
“So we are taking the governance to the grassroots so that whatever is from the top will also go down to the bottom,” Okpebholo said.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and thanked party members for their role in securing victory.
“I want to say good morning to everybody and tell you that I love you all. I want to let you know that the party is our party. We don’t have any other party than APC,” he said.
“Approving 4,800 SAs is not an issue at all because we all work for this victory. The victory does not belong to Okpebholo alone,” the governor added.
In his speech, the Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, explained that the governor approved 25 special assistant positions for each of the 192 wards in the state.
According to Tenebe, the meeting was convened to communicate the criteria and guidelines for selecting beneficiaries.
“In his magnanimity, the governor has decided to approve 25 SAs in each of the wards in 192 wards across the state. And that is the reason why we decided to invite ward chairmen and members to this meeting so we can tell you the criteria to select these people that will benefit from this approval,” Tenebe said.
The APC State Working Committee has constituted a committee to interface with the various wards and ensure compliance with the stipulated guidelines. The committee is also expected to compile and submit the names of qualified nominees to the party headquarters in Benin City.
Tenebe commended the administration for repositioning the party, noting that the APC had become more active and stable under Okpebholo. He also disclosed plans for the party to receive a vehicle for its activities and acknowledged government support for APC candidates in the last local government elections.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff to the Governor, members of the APC State Working Committee, ward chairmen and other party representatives from across the state.
The meeting is expected to further strengthen coordination between the state government and the APC structure at the ward and local government levels as the administration deepens its grassroots development and mobilisation agenda.
