BENIN CITY – The Edo State Government has conducted first and second quarter performance appraisals for its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as part of efforts to ensure accountability, efficiency, and alignment with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.
The exercise, held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City, was coordinated by the Directorate of Corporate Change Communication and Performance Management.
Addressing participants, the Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, said the appraisals were designed to measure impact, strengthen accountability, and ensure judicious use of resources.
He stressed that performance reviews are now a critical governance tool rather than a ceremonial activity.
“The era of taking actions without measuring impact is gone,” Dr. Okungbowa declared.
“Excuses will no longer be tolerated. MDAs must interrogate policies, identify gaps, and make adjustments. This is not to embarrass anyone, but to guarantee that we are delivering our mandate and improving citizens’ lives.”
He urged agencies that underperformed in the review period to see the appraisal as an opportunity for improvement, while charging top-performing MDAs to double their efforts.
Commending the Directorate of Corporate Change Communication and Performance Management, Dr. Okungbowa praised its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Joy Akhigbe, for coordinating what he described as a meticulous, data-driven exercise.
Dr. Akhigbe explained that the review was aimed at reconciling government targets with actual achievements, saying the reports would serve as reference documents for future planning.
“Performance reviews must become routine,” she noted. “They help clarify mandates, functions, and key performance indicators, while benchmarking targets against milestones. This way, we build accuracy and accountability into the system.”
