There are rare moments in public life when politics quiets its usual noise and takes on a more profound task — it heals. For hundreds of former staff of the defunct College of Education, Ekiadolor, that healing moment has finally come. After years of anxious waiting, protests, and despair, Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the payment of long-overdue entitlements — a humane decision that begins to wipe away tears shed for far too long.
This matters because behind the headlines are real human stories. Staff at the Colleges of Education in Ekiadolor and Igueben had gone without pay since September 2019. Families endured hunger, pensioners lived in fear, and repeated protests echoed their anguish. For many, the absence of income meant not just lost wages, but lost dignity.
The years following 2019 were marked by a painful restructuring of tertiary institutions in Edo State. Ekiadolor was handed over to the federal government, and many dedicated staff were abruptly categorized as “disengaged.” Their service was dismissed, their pensions delayed, and their lives upended.
Governor Okpebholo has stepped into that breach. His administration has earmarked ₦4.6 billion for entitlement settlements and has already begun disbursing the first tranche — over ₦1 billion to pensioners and eligible beneficiaries. This is more than just financial relief; it is justice restored. For those who knocked on closed doors for years, it is vindication. For Edo State, it is an overdue correction of past wrongs.
Gratitude here is not political flattery; it is civic recognition. Leadership is measured not only by grand promises but by quiet, corrective action. By authorizing phased disbursements, Governor Okpebholo has chosen compassion and responsibility over indifference — a choice that carries enormous weight in a society where many have grown weary of broken promises.
For those who endured silence and hardship, this is a day of cautious celebration. The pain of the past — lost years, stalled careers, emotional toll — cannot be erased. But this decision opens a door to healing. It affirms that governance includes caring for those who once served the public and begins to rebuild trust between government and citizens.
Yes, political interpretations will abound. Some will call this justice, others will frame it as electioneering. But beyond politics, what matters is this: when a leader chooses to repair injustice, that act deserves clear acknowledgment. Governor Okpebholo’s intervention is decisive, lawful, and timely — proof that governance can move from rhetoric to real relief.
Looking forward, one plea remains: let this set a new standard. Let no group of citizens ever again languish unpaid for years. Let entitlements be settled with speed and dignity, and let accountability guide every restructuring process.
To Governor Monday Okpebholo — for listening, acting, and restoring what was withheld — the staff of the former College of Education, Ekiadolor, express profound gratitude. You have not only balanced an account but renewed hope. May future administrations follow this example of justice and compassion.
