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 (Fubara) has announced a figure that is higher than the national minimum wage. He has set a sum of N85,000, which is above the minimum wage prescribed nationally,” he said.
“As the head of service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very pleased to say that Rivers state civil servants have never had it this good since the inception of this state. The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were pleased with this development.”
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.
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 signed the minimum wage bill into law. That moved the pay from N30,000 to N70,000.
