Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo on Tuesday swore in 19 new commissioners and five chairmen of boards, urging them to remain loyal to the people of the state.

The new boards and commissions are the Edo State Bursary and Scholarship Board, the Senior Secondary Education Board, the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission, the Edo State Law Reform Commission, and the Edo State Ecological Funding and Management Commission.

Mr Okpebholo, who emphasised that the appointments were made strictly on merit, reminded them that their roles were a call to serve the people and not for personal aggrandizement.

The governor emphasised that his administration had zero tolerance for corruption and expected them to be disciplined and embrace teamwork.

He urged them to come up with projects that would be felt in every community across the state.

Mr Okpebholo reminded the appointees to see their new positions as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development and prove that the government could work for the people.

“You are not here for money-making but for service, for sacrifice, and for a better life for Edo people. History will judge us not by our intentions but by our actions,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Festus Ebea thanked Mr Okpebholo for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their full commitment to his administration’s vision.

“We pledge to support your developmental agenda and ensure that all your promises to the people of Edo State and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are fully realised,” he said.

Mr Ebea assured the governor that the new commissioners would work tirelessly to help deliver on his promise of effective governance and political stability in the state .

Those who graced the occasion include Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Secretary to the State Government Musa Ikilor, and the chief of staff to the governor, Gani Audu, among others.

(NAN)