● Tonye Okurumo
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a new minimum wage of eighty-five thousand naira (₦85,000) for civil servants, positioning Rivers as one of the highest wage-paying states in Nigeria. The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, where representatives of organized labor under the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council were present.
Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the new wage would take effect from November 2024. The approval surpasses the national minimum wage set by the Federal Government, reaffirming Governor Fubara’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, expressed his delight with the decision, stating, “Governor Fubara has graciously approved a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He has pronounced a sum of eighty-five thousand naira (₦85,000), which is higher than the minimum wage prescribed nationally.” He further added, “As the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labor family, I am very happy to say that Rivers State civil servants have never had it this good since the inception of the State.”
Rivers State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Alex Agwanwor (left); flanked by Chairman, Rivers State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku (left); addressing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting on the new minimum wage with the Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
Dr. Nwaeke also addressed the issue of payment arrears, explaining that a technical committee had been set up to work out the specifics. “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee, of which I will serve as Deputy to the SSG. We are going to critically examine the payment structure and will inform the press once decisions are finalized,” he clarified.
Comrade Emecheta Chuku, Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in Rivers State, praised the Governor for his decisive action. “For the Governor to come forward, despite the challenges he is facing, and approve ₦85,000 as the minimum wage, it shows his love for the workers. We are overjoyed. We know the kind of leader we have—he understands what it means to earn a living wage,” Comrade Chuku remarked, further expressing confidence in Governor Fubara’s leadership.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, applauded the Governor’s decision and compared it to Lagos State’s wage structure. “Lagos State announced eighty-five thousand naira (₦85,000), and Rivers State is paying the same. Given the difference in internally generated revenue (IGR) between the two states, this approval places Rivers State among the top wage-paying states in Nigeria,” Agwanwor said.
He continued, “We commend His Excellency, Governor Fubara, who has proven himself to be the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. We assure him that labor will stand by him throughout his tenure.”
Chairman, Rivers State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku (middle); flanked by State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Alex Agwanwor (left); and Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon Joseph Johnson (right); during a press briefing shortly after a closed door meeting on the new minimum wage with the Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
The outcome of the meeting reflects Governor Fubara’s commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants, ensuring that Rivers State remains a leader in workers’ welfare across Nigeria. GMTNewsng
