Governor  Adams Oshiomhole has charged the Edo State Civil Service Commission to re-invigorate the system and bring it in line with modern-day realities.

The governor gave the charge while swearing in Dr Friday Eboreime, a former Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, and Mr Matthew Esewe, a former Surveyor-General in the state, as two new members of the commission.

He said competence rather than years of service should be the yardstick for determining those qualified for promotion.

“No one should be promoted just because he has been on a certain level for years; it is your lot to look at issues of promotion dispassionately.” Oshiomhole said that the appointment of Eboreime and Esewe was based purely on merit.

“In looking for men to head the Civil Service Commission, we felt your wealth of experience would add value to the state. Having passed through the system, you know what the challenges are.

“You should employ people not because they need jobs but because they are competent and will adequately fill a vacuum in the system.”

The governor noted that there were still vacant slots in the state civil service which would be filled at the appropriate time.

Responding on behalf of himself and his colleague, Eboreime thanked the governor for the appointment.

“With the development strides made by the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the areas of infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, water, electricity and others, we feel challenged to play our part in the ongoing radical transformation of the state.

“We are aware of the present developmental restraints in the state, such as the dwindling resources from the Federal Government, which may restrict the administration’s desire for mass employment and pose great challenges in meeting the Millennium Development Goals, but we shall not allow this to deter us from doing our job. “In support of the attractive plan for employment of youths by the state government; we intend to encourage entrepreneurial programmes that will motivate the youth for job creation and self-employment.

“On the whole, we promise to efficiently implement the state government’s policy on recruitment, promotion and discipline and others for civil servants in the employment of the state.”