BENIN CITY -Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, says the state has one of the best conditions of service for the state public servants.

He made this known yesterday in Benin at the opening ceremony of the 24th Annual Conference/Scientific Workshop of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), tagged: ‘Edo 08’.

The state Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Irekpono Omoike stated that, the state government had implemented all the approved welfare packages for workers in the state civil service, cleared the arrears of promotions it inherited from previous administration and while employing more workers to improve service delivery.

Governor Osunbor described the theme of the conference: “The Laboratory: Foundation for Science and Technology Culture,” as timely and appropriate to contemporary issues, adding that the state government would be glad to receive any outcome of NISLT’s hile noting that the state government had in September this year, flagged-off the Free Ante-Natal Care. Delivery for pregnant women which also includes free anti-malaria treatment for pregnant women and free anti- malaria treatment for children under five, he assured that the present administration in the state would also continue to improve the working environment in universities, research institutes and training institutions with a view to encouraging research, teaching and service delivery.

On her part, the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Ekpiwhre, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Engineer Raymond Nwobodo, urged the participants to, in the course of their deliberations, critically examine/appraise the ways they hitherto carried out their work and come up with new initiatives that would add value to their core mandate.

He maintained that as professionals, they must put in place best laboratory practices all the time.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, Mr. Samuel Akanji, promised that they would continue to work within their institutional framework and contribute meaningfully to the actualisation of the Seven-Point Agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.