RIVERS: Fubara approves N85,000 minimum wage for civil servants

The state’s Head of Service, George Nwaeke, announced that Governor Siminalayi Fubara granted the approval during a closed-door meeting with labor leaders and senior government officials.

Following the meeting, Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new wage would take immediate effect.

“The governor approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for Rivers workers, which was the resolution we reached before leaving,” Nwaeke stated.

He further mentioned that a committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), had been established to oversee the process. Labor leaders and government officials would begin drafting the details for the immediate rollout.

The Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta, commended Governor Fubara for fulfilling the expectations of the state’s workers, expressing gratitude for his commitment.

“We are pleased that our expectations of the governor are being met,” Emecheta said after the meeting.

Alex Agwanwor, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, highlighted that the new minimum wage would significantly reduce the financial difficulties faced by workers.

Governor Fubara’s decision follows a trend among states to announce the payment of the new minimum wage, with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also pledging N85,000 for civil servants.

This comes after President Bola Tinubu signed a minimum wage bill into law in July 2024, raising the wage floor from N30,000 to N70,000.