The Rivers State Government has approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants in the state.
The Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke, announced that the approval was granted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a closed-door meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials.
Following the meeting, Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new minimum wage will take effect immediately.
“He granted a minimum wage of N85,000 to Rivers workers and that is what our resolution was by the time we left the place,” the head of service said.
“The implementation is with an immediate effect. A committee has been set up – the SSG is heading it. The labour leaders and I are going to the drawing board immediately to work out the details for the immediate takeoff of the scheme.”
On their part, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta, praised Governor Fubara for meeting the expectations of Rivers State workers.
He expressed appreciation for the Governor’s commitment to the workforce.
“Today, we are happy that our expectation for our governor, he is living up to it,” he said.
“He has demonstrated it this afternoon,” Emecheta said after the meeting.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Alex Agwanwor, noted that the minimum wage will greatly alleviate the economic hardships faced by workers in the state.
Fubara’s move is the latest in a series of states announcing the payment of the new minimum wage. Days back, his Lagos State counterpart Babajide Sanwo-Olu said civil servants in the state will be paid N85,000 as minimum wage.
President Bola Tinubu had in July 2024 signed the minimum wage bill into law. That moved the pay from N30,000 to N70,000.
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