… to partner traditional, religious, community leaders on new security scheme to check crime
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that his administration has concluded plans to recruit 725 new professionals into the state’s civil service.
The governor said this during the Alaghodaro/Inauguration 2020 Thanksgiving Service, held at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.
Obaseki said he would in his second term focus on strengthening the civil service, which is the engine room of government. He said advertisement for the new positions will soon be published for interested persons to apply.
According to him, “About 725 vacancies have been declared. Within a month, the recruitment of a new generation of professionals would commence in earnest. By early next year, we would have completed the process.
“We would commence intensive training early next year for 30 to 45 days, by which time most vacancies will have been filled in the public service. After this, we will announce political appointments and get political actors to join us to begin to work on our manifesto to fulfil our promises to Edo people.”
The governor, who thanked God for a peaceful and successful election and inauguration, said he has started work immediately to ensure the people of Edo State enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“Work starts on Monday. We have announced the appointment of Secretary to the State Government. We are expanding the transition team and they have 60 days added to the initial timeline to complete all aspects of their work.”
On security, Obaseki said he will be summoning meetings with traditional leaders, leaders of churches and other community leaders in the state, noting: “Together, we will design a new security scheme. We can’t wait for one central policing system to take care of the policing needs of Edo people.
“We have already graduated the first batch of 877 of the 2000 community constables that have been trained by the Nigeria Police Force. They would be deployed to various communities to work with local community arrangements to ensure effective coordination and keep criminals out of the state.”
He added, “We have acquired about 25 hectares of land to build our own state correctional facility so that the whole Justice train is complete