Edo NULGE President Hails Okpebholo’s Infrastructure Drive, Workers’ Welfare at Abuja National Summit
By Genesis ogiri
ABUJA, October 16, 2026 — Dr. Scott Aigbovia, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Edo State chapter, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as remarkable strides in infrastructure development and workers’ welfare, declaring that Edo State is witnessing an unprecedented wave of developmental activities across its local government areas.
Aigbovia made the remarks during the ongoing three-day 2026 Annual National Summit of the Association of Chairmen of Local Government Service Commissions of Nigeria in Abuja, themed “Future of Nigeria Democracy: Electoral Integrity and Grassroots Governance.” He described the summit as timely and impactful, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections, noting that the deliberations were equipping grassroots workers with a better understanding of their civic responsibilities and electoral obligations.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the grassroots. This conference has come at a better time than ever. It has enlightened us on what is expected of us during this electoral era,” Aigbovia said, emphasising the strategic importance of grassroots institutions in deepening democratic participation and strengthening electoral awareness.
The NULGE president lauded Okpebholo’s administration for its infrastructure drive, maintaining that construction activities across the state’s local government areas reflected an expanding commitment to grassroots development. “The level of development going on in Edo State is unprecedented. Every local government has turned into a construction site. Edo is shining, and Governor Monday Okpebholo is working,” he declared, attributing the state’s development trajectory to the governor’s SHINE Agenda, which he said aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
On workers’ welfare, Aigbovia praised the governor’s approach to labour relations, citing regular salary payments and timely promotions as evidence of attention to employees’ conditions of service. He stated that workers receive their salaries on the 25th of every month and that eligible employees are promoted without unnecessary delays, arguing that predictable remuneration and career progression were essential to boosting morale and enhancing productivity within the public service.
Addressing the political dimension of the summit, Aigbovia said workers would support administrations they considered responsive to their welfare, both at the federal and state levels. He also referenced Okpebholo’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu from Edo State in the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence in the mobilisation capacity of grassroots structures while stating that electoral support would be demonstrated when the time comes.
Aigbovia further called for the full implementation of local government autonomy across the federation, urging state governments to embrace policies that would enable councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively. He maintained that strengthening local government administration was indispensable to ensuring that democratic governance translated into tangible benefits for communities, particularly through improved service delivery, accountability and development planning.
The NULGE leader also commended the organisers for convening the summit, describing the gathering as an important platform for policy dialogue, professional engagement and institutional capacity-building. He particularly applauded the guest speaker, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for delivering what he described as a powerful and inspiring address that encouraged participants and underscored the importance of purposeful leadership, workers’ welfare and effective grassroots governance.
The summit, chaired by the National Chairman of the Association, Chief Simon Tangni, brought together stakeholders in local government administration to deliberate on electoral integrity, democratic consolidation and the future of grassroots governance in Nigeria.
Discussions at the gathering come as political and institutional stakeholders consider the role of local government structures in strengthening democratic participation and improving governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the summit drew to a close, Aigbovia’s intervention underscored the imperative of strengthening local government autonomy, prioritising workers’ welfare and promoting responsible civic participation as critical pillars for consolidating democratic governance and advancing sustainable development across Nigeria.
