PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — In a significant boost for public sector workers, the Rivers State Government has approved a new minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants in the state.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara granted the approval during a closed-door meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials, and it will take effect immediately.
The announcement was made by the Head of Service for the state, George Nwaeke, following the meeting held on Friday, October 19, 2024.
Nwaeke confirmed that the decision reflects the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its workforce.
“The approval has been given by the Governor, and implementation of the new minimum wage will commence without delay,” Nwaeke said.
Labour leaders in Rivers State have expressed satisfaction with the Governor’s move. Chukwu Emecheta, Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, praised Governor Fubara for addressing the expectations of workers.
“The Governor has shown a deep understanding of the challenges faced by civil servants in Rivers State, and we commend him for meeting our demands,” Emecheta said.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, also lauded the approval, describing it as a timely intervention for workers grappling with the country’s economic challenges.
“This new minimum wage will greatly alleviate the economic hardships faced by workers in the state,” Agwanwor stated. “We believe this will significantly improve the standard of living for many families.”
The announcement of the N85,000 minimum wage is expected to have far-reaching impacts on the livelihoods of thousands of civil servants in the state.
It also places Rivers State among the few Nigerian states that have taken proactive steps to increase minimum wages amid the country’s challenging economic landscape.
Governor Fubara’s administration has consistently promised reforms aimed at supporting civil servants and enhancing productivity within the state’s workforce.
The move has been seen as a major step toward delivering on those promises, and the labour community in Rivers State has widely hailed the decision as a victory for workers.
While the implementation details of the new minimum wage are still being outlined, the swift action taken by the government is expected to reduce tensions and potential labour unrest in the state.
The Rivers State Government, in collaboration with labour leaders, will continue to monitor the rollout of the new wage structure to ensure that all eligible civil servants receive the appropriate pay increase.
