The Rivers State Government has approved a new minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants.
This announcement was made by the Head of Service, George Nwaeke, following a closed-door meeting between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, labor leaders, and senior government officials. Nwaeke confirmed that the Governor granted the approval, and the new minimum wage will be implemented immediately.
“The Governor has approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for Rivers workers, and that was the resolution of our meeting,” Nwaeke stated. “The implementation takes immediate effect, with a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) set up to finalize the details. Labour leaders and I will begin work on ensuring the scheme’s swift rollout.”
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta, praised Governor Fubara for fulfilling the expectations of the state’s workers and acknowledged his commitment to their welfare. “We are pleased that the Governor has lived up to our expectations,” Emecheta remarked.
Alex Agwanwor, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, highlighted that the new minimum wage will provide significant relief to workers struggling with economic challenges.
Governor Fubara’s move follows similar actions by other states, including Lagos, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also announced an N85,000 minimum wage for civil servants. This comes after President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage bill into law in July 2024, raising the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.