01/01/2026
Okpebholo’s Welfare Footprint in 2025 Puts Edo People First
By Ebojele Akhere Patrick, PhD
Year 2025 has stood out in Edo State as a period when governance was felt in real, everyday terms by the people. Under the purposeful and capacity-driven leadership of Governor Senator Monday Okpehbholo, welfare moved beyond fine words and policy documents to visible action.
Decisions taken during the year reflected a clear understanding that government exists to improve lives, not merely to administer power.
From workers and traders to the vulnerable, the sick, the elderly and the youth, the Okpebholo administration deliberately placed human impact at the centre of governance.
One of the most symbolic and widely applauded actions of the year was the employment of a visibly challenged lawyer into the Edo State civil service.
By appointing a lawyer as a law officer in the Ministry of Justice, the governor did more than fill a statutory role. He made a strong statement about inclusion, dignity and fairness in public service.
In a society where persons living with disabilities are often discussed in theory but excluded in practice, this decision represented a clear break from the past.
It reinforced the simple but powerful idea that ability, competence and qualification — not physical limitations — should determine access to opportunity and public responsibility.
For Edo workers, 2025 brought renewed confidence in government and a sense of being valued.
The payment of a 13th-month salary, for the second time under Governor Okpebholo, was not a symbolic gesture but a deliberate welfare policy aimed at easing economic pressure.
The extra salary provided breathing space and restored morale across the civil service. Beyond this, the administration sustained regular payment of monthly salaries and approved a new minimum wage of ₦75,000, placing Edo among states that chose to prioritise workers even in the face of fiscal constraints.
These measures strengthened trust between government and its workforce, reinforcing the belief that public servants are partners in development, not expendable tools.
Healthcare received decisive and strategic attention. Governor Okpebholo’s ₦2.5 billion intervention at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) was driven by a clear understanding that a strong healthcare system is foundational to social stability and economic productivity.
The funding, directed at strengthening specialised healthcare services, including paediatric care, reflected a long-term vision of improving access to quality medical treatment.
UBTH serves not only Edo State but a wide catchment across the South-South and beyond, making the investment both strategic and humane. While the decision attracted political debate, its human value — lives saved, children treated and families supported — remains undeniable.
Another major pillar of the administration’s welfare drive in 2025 was support for traders and small business owners, who form the backbone of Edo’s informal economy.
Recognising the daily struggles of market men and women, petty traders and small-scale entrepreneurs, Governor Okpebholo approved a massive ₦100 million intervention targeted at empowering traders across the state.
The initiative was designed to provide financial relief, expand access to capital and stimulate grassroots economic activity. For thousands of traders, this intervention represented more than money; it was a vote of confidence in their resilience and contribution to the state’s economy.
By strengthening small businesses, the administration effectively tackled poverty, unemployment and economic stagnation from the bottom up.
Pensioners, often the forgotten segment in public policy conversations, were not left behind.
Throughout 2025, the Okpebholo government took steps to address long-standing concerns of retirees, including assurances and actions toward clearing arrears and improving access to healthcare.
For senior citizens who devoted their productive years to the service of Edo State, these efforts restored dignity and peace of mind. The administration’s approach sent a clear message that retirement should not translate into neglect, and that government has a moral obligation to care for those who once carried the burden of public service.
Youth empowerment formed another critical layer of the welfare architecture. Governor Okpebholo understood that sustainable welfare cannot depend solely on salaries, grants or bonuses.
It must be rooted in opportunity and capacity-building. As a result, the administration invested in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and employment pathways for young people.
Programmes designed to support outstanding graduates, encourage innovation and promote self-reliance were rolled out with the aim of preparing Edo’s youth for a competitive and rapidly changing economy.
By focusing on skills and enterprise, the government addressed both present welfare needs and future economic stability.
What ties these initiatives together is not just their scale, but their intent. Governor Okpebholo’s S.H.I.N.E. agenda incorporates his welfare package, guided by a people-first philosophy that sees governance as a tool to reduce hardship, expand opportunity and rebuild trust between the state and its citizens.
Whether through inclusive employment, improved wages, trader support, healthcare investments or social protection for retirees, the administration consistently aligned policy with human impact.
As Edo State moves into 2026, the welfare footprint of 2025 stands as a clear reference point. It shows that governance can be firm yet compassionate, disciplined yet responsive.
In a time of widespread scepticism about public leadership, the Okpebholo administration’s actions have helped reset expectations and reaffirm a simple truth: when government listens, plans and acts with sincerity, the people feel it where it matters most — in their daily lives.
Ebojele is Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpehbholo
