Employees in the Rivers State government civil service expressed their appreciation for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s successful implementation of the promised N85,000 minimum wage.
Upon announcing the new wage, Fubara guaranteed that it would take effect starting with the November salary payments.
Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu had approved a national minimum wage of N70,000 in July, responding to calls from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to address the economic difficulties facing the country.
Recognizing the vital role of civil servants in Rivers State, Fubara set the state minimum wage at N85,000, affirming that the payment would be supported by the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Fubara also highlighted that his administration has not relied on borrowing to fund the state’s development projects. He revealed that the state’s IGR has surged from N11 billion under the previous administration to N27 billion during his tenure.
In an interview, Chukwuma Osunna, the Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union in Rivers State, confirmed the new salary structure’s implementation.
He stated, “The governor has kept his word. As of today, November 27, 2024, I can confirm that workers have received the N85,000 minimum wage, and there is great satisfaction among them.”
Osunna further explained, “We convened a meeting under the joint council, engaged with the Head of Service, reviewed the salary chart, and verified that the N85,000 wage has been accurately calculated and incorporated into November’s salary. Payments commenced today, and by tomorrow, other banks will begin processing the payments as well.
