The Edo State Government has announced the recruitment of 360 cleaners.
The Governor Monday Okpebholo announced this through Anthony Okungbowa, the State Head of Service.
Okungbowa said the workers were employed from the three senatorial districts of the state.
Okungbowa also said that the workers have been deployed to various government ministries and parastatals to boost the workforce.
He added that the employment was part of the steps taken by the Governor Okpebholo-led administration to embark on people-centred initiatives.
“Recently, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, directed that cleaners should be employed into the state civil service as opposed to using consultants and contractors.
“These consultants and contractors were in business and contract with the government. They were paid to employ cleaners to clean government offices, and their take-home pay then was not encouraging and couldn’t support them.
“Gov Okpebholo was not pleased with the arrangement of the Obaseki administration, and as such, instructed that direct employment should be embarked upon to ensure Edo people were recruited into the state civil and public service and received the N70,000 minimum wage.
“Those employed by this present administration are to receive the N70,000 minimum wage paid to all Edo State workers, showing the Okpebholo administration’s commitment to delivering good governance in all sectors.
“Before now, cleaners in the state were receiving N20,000 to N30,000. They were paid less because consultants are businessmen trading to make gains, but the Okpebholo administration decided to change the narrative by giving direct employment to enhance the lives of the people and ensure they enjoy good and practical governance.
“These cleaners, under the previous administration, were not government workers but employees of different contractors and consultants. Job security was not guaranteed, as workers under consultancy services could be sacked unceremoniously,” he said.
He added that appointment letters have since been given to the new staff.
He added that another batch would soon be hired.
“We want to bring in the number of cleaners required to clean government offices; 360 have been employed now and assigned to their various government ministries and parastatals,” he added.
