Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has approved a new minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants employed by the state government.
The decision was made during a private meeting chaired by the Governor, with representatives from organized labor under the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
After the meeting, Dr. George Nwaeke, Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, announced on behalf of the government that Governor Fubara has approved the new minimum wage.
Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation will begin in November 2024. He also mentioned that a technical committee has been set up to create a practical payment plan to address any potential arrears related of the new wage.
Nwaeke said, “Governor Fubara has announced an amount higher than the National Minimum Wage, setting it at N85,000, which surpasses the nationally mandated figure.
“As the Head of Service and a key member of the labor community, I am proud to say that Rivers State civil servants have never experienced such favorable conditions since the state’s founding.”
He added, “The labor union leaders and other key stakeholders are pleased with this development.
“The committee, which I will co-chair with the SSG, will address the issue of arrears. We are already working on it as part of a technical committee, which will finalize the payment details and provide updates to the press later
Emecheta Chuku, Chairman of the Rivers State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, noted that this was their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the new wage, which aligns with the rate approved by the Federal Government. Chuku expressed satisfaction with the N85,000 wage, calling it a goodwill gesture towards workers.
He stated, “For the Governor to commit to paying N85,000 as the minimum wage, despite the challenges he is facing, fills our hearts with joy.”
Of course, we have no doubt, given the kind of person our Governor is,” Chuku continued. “He is a decent, responsible man who has risen through the ranks of the system. He understands what it means to earn a living wage and knows the difference between giving money as a gift and paying a salary that can sustain someone from the beginning to the end of the month.”
Similarly, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State Chapter, highlighted that Rivers State now offers the highest minimum wage for civil servants in Nigeria, surpassing Lagos State.
He explained, “Why do I say this? Lagos State announced N85,000, and Rivers State is paying the same amount. However, the internally generated revenues of Lagos and Rivers are not equal. So, for the Governor to agree to match Lagos’ rate, it means we are leading in this regard.”
We are confident in our support for the Governor and will continue to commend his efforts. As far as this state is concerned, the labor force stands firmly with him, and we will support him for the next eight years.
“I want to express my appreciation to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, our state’s Number One Worker. Once again, he has demonstrated why workers in Rivers State honored him on May Day as the Champion of Labor and the Most Labor-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. His actions today further prove this, and I want to commend him for that.”
