Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has approved N85,000 as the minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
The governor gave the approval during a meeting with representatives of organised labour at the government house in Port Harcourt.
Addressing journalists, George Nwaeke, head of the Rivers State civil service, confirmed that the “implementation of the minimum wage will begin in November.”
He expressed satisfaction with the development, saying that “Rivers state civil servants have never had it this good since the inception of this state.”
Emecheta Chuku, chairman of the joint public service negotiating council, praised the governor for his decision, stating that “for the governor to declare that he will pay N85,000 as the minimum wage, fills our hearts with joy.”
Chuku described Fubara as “a decent man, very responsible” and someone who “understands what it takes to earn a living salary.”
Alex Agwanwor, chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers, also pledged support, saying, “We will support him for the next eight years.”
This development follows a similar announcement by Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who recently set the minimum wage at N85,000 for civil servants.
In July, President Bola Tinubu signed a minimum wage bill into law, increasing the national wage from N30,000 to N70,000.
