Panelist calls on Okpebholo to make policies that are of utmost benefit to ordinary people
By Bernadette Idalu
In furtherance of activities marking the hundred days in office of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the New Festival Hall, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Government House, Benin City, was today, Friday, February 21, 2025, set alight with tantalizing ideas and advocacies, with a call on Mr. Governor, by a panelist, to make policies that impact, align and of utmost benefit to the ordinary people.
Taking this stand, Prof. Onoho'Omhen Ebhohimhen from Mewar International University, Abuja, encouraged the governor to impact on policies that are beneficial to the ordinary people to stem the tide of, "People of no ambition giving birth to those of no aspiration."
He observed, "When leaders are shaped by the toughness of society, they tend to be more public policy oriented to benefit the masses." He also noted that, "Governance is not about inheriting assets and liabilities but a continuance with policies that are of benefit to the people."
Declaring open the "Stakeholders sensitization workshop" which ran with the theme, "Exposing the policy thrust of Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration," organized by the Edo State Ministry of Information and Communication in collaboration with the Edo State Government, Governor Monday Okpebholo said that government was keen at protecting the interest of citizens.
Though unavoidably absent, he was
represented by the Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa through whom he revealed that he was running a people oriented government. He maintained that the Stakeholders meeting was a step in the right direction as it enabled government get feedback directly from the masses on the impact of government's policies and state projects.
While making known the appointment of forty (40) first class graduates within three months of assumption of office, Governor Okpebholo appreciated the Ministry of Information and communication for their foresight and ability to pull stakeholders together to network and ventilate on ideas which drive government policies, programmes and projects. He said such feedback enabled government to "Crystalize on ideas from the public and academia."
Hon. Pius Alile, Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to Edo State Government, Office of the Deputy Governor, who represented Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, aside elucidating on the developmental strides of Okpebholo administration within the time frame in review, said, "corruption has been the bane of national development; and, it needs to be tackled."
Moderating a panel session which fielded members of the academia and government, each, focusing on an area of development, setbacks and way forward to expedite on development, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu engaged panelists from the "SHINE" perspective which focused on- "security, health, infrastructure, natural resources/agriculture and education."
Prof. Felix Oriakhi of the Department of Political Science, Federal University of Otuoke, praised the governor for increasing the funding for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. He advocated for the erection of functional primary health care centres (PHC's) in rural areas to cater to the health needs of rural folks who are agrarian. However, he called on government to, as a matter of urgency, organize refresher courses for enforcers of revenue collection to guide their rules of engagement with commercial drivers and others as they go about boosting the state's internally generated revenue (IGR).
The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Edo State, Dr. Paddy Iyamu talked about the policy tilt of the education sector, the review of syllabus, building bridges to make all proud of the educational exploits of students, promotion of teachers and ongoing employment of fresh teachers. He touched on setbacks and the technological importance of the Benin Technical College.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole advocated for the review of the retirement age from sixty (60)to seventy (70) years for Consultants and sixty five (65) years for all health workers to stem their migration to foreign climes.
Due to present shortfall of doctors as against patients at hospitals, he pointed out the significance of telemedicine in the treatment of patients.
Dr. Oshiomhole said the five hundred and fifty (550) hospitals in Edo State would be providing free malaria treatment and testing to help roll back malaria in Edo State.
He said the Ministry of Health will be training mobilizers this weekend, sourced "one per ward," across the one hundred and ninety two (192) Wards of Edo State. These would be paid stipends for the next 2years to ensure the programme works.
The malaria drugs, he made known, will be available in the next two to three weeks. Based on received feedback, he assured, "For those who get charged for the free services or can't access the services, these should report to the health ministry for necessary action."
Nonetheless, while giving answer to the raised question on when the Central Hospital, Benin City, would open for use again, revealed, "The Central Hospital as it is now, is fragmented, but we plan to move some departments to Oredo Clinic in the next one or two weeks.
"The Maternity and the Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) Department would be moved there so that the Sickle Cell Centre can have the sickle cell building to themselves. We are thinking of doing some stem cell transplant for our sickle cell patients so we will be talking to some professors in sickle cell disease."
At the stakeholders meeting, there was a robust question and answer segment which allowed the free flow of information, expression of bottled up grouse, pointing out areas in need of improvement and commendation of government's efforts this far.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and communication, Dr. Desmond Agbama gave the vote of thanks
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