Commission says outstanding promotion backlog is being cleared, assures workers of timely advancement
BENIN CITY, EDO STATE — The Edo State Civil Service Commission has continued its 2026 promotion interview exercise for eligible civil servants across various ministries, departments and agencies of the state government.
The latest session, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, considered 38 eligible officers, mainly from the Office of the Accountant-General of Edo State, the Ministry of Budget and the Ministry of Transportation.
Chairman of the Commission, Samuel Ozemhonyelea Oko-Ose, mni, said the exercise formed part of the Commission’s statutory responsibilities, including the recruitment, promotion and discipline of civil servants.
He said the Commission was conducting promotion interviews regularly to address outstanding promotion cases and ensure that eligible officers progress in their careers in line with established procedures.
According to the Chairman, promotion backlogs dating back to 2022 existed before the present Commission was inaugurated in September 2025. He said the Commission had cleared the backlog up to January 2025, while promotion exercises covering July 2025 and January 2026 were still being processed.
Oko-Ose expressed confidence that the outstanding cases would be addressed before 2027, stating that the Commission’s objective was to ensure that promotions were handled when officers became due.
He also thanked Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for providing what he described as an enabling environment for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities.
The Chairman urged civil servants to demonstrate greater commitment to their duties, stressing that career advancement should be matched by improved performance and service to the public.
He reassured workers that the Commission was working towards eliminating delays in promotion and ensuring a more regular promotion process across the state civil service.
The interview was presided over by the Commission’s Chairman and attended by members of the Commission, including Deborah Odegwa Enakhimion, Esq.; Godson Airuo-Emoh Hayioye, Esq.; Elder David Ovbiosa Odaro, JP.; Pastor Isikpe Irene Kadiri; and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. G. U. Obazee, among others.
The Commission said the ongoing exercise was part of efforts to build a motivated and efficient workforce capable of delivering effective public services to residents of Edo State.
