The Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., at the weekend, led civil and public servants in the State to clean major markets and streets across the State as part of activities to mark the 66th birthday of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

The team visited Oba Market, Lagos Street, New Benin Market, Ekiosa Market, amongst other areas in the State.

Okungbowa said the special environmental exercise is put together by the body of Permanent Secretaries, the Office of the Head of Service and civil/public servants across the State to celebrate the governor on his 66th birthday.

He noted, “The Edo State workforce has commended the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for his developmental strides and the sustained growth and progress witnessed in the State in the last six and half years.

“We are celebrating the best governor in Nigeria today. He has done so much for Edo State Civil/Public Service, making it the best in Nigeria. We are the best-paid public servants in Nigeria. We have the best working environment in the Country.

“The Edo State Civil/Public Service is the most digitized in the Country. It’s the only service that gives first class graduates automatic employment. The governor has made us the best in everything.

“We are celebrating the governor through this exercise of cleaning our environment. To celebrate him, we felt it will be good to use an opportunity like this to clean the environment and the body of Permanent Secretaries (PS) and HOS put resources together to ensure this exercise becomes possible today.”

He added, “We are very proud of the governor's achievement and proud to celebrate the best governor in Nigeria. Hopefully, we will do this every year to appreciate him and thank God for his life and his many achievements for the Edo people.”

On his part, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Joshua Omokhodion, said, “The idea is to imbibe the culture of cleanliness which is Edo State's original cultural values. A cleaner environment brings wellness and when the people are in good health, it triggers wealth in the system. As a State, we are working to turn waste into wealth and this will be achieved.”

The General Manager of Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Charles Imariagbe, noted that “this exercise is a special edition to mark the governor’s 66th birthday and it’s remarkable to us because the governor desires a cleaner City. This is a flagship and from here we will continue to sustain the momentum for all of us to keep the environment clean.”