Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000 new minimum wage for workers under the civil service employment of the state government.
This is as Governor Fubara has also approved the release of official vehicles to all recorgnised traditional rulers in the state.
The agreement for the payment of the minimum wage was reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the state at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has approved a new minimum wage of N85,000, adding that payment will take effect in November, 2024.
Dr. Nwaeke said: “He (Governor Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the 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 happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Emecheta Chuku, explained that it is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Chuku said that the approval of the new minimum wage is appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the governor. We assure him that, as far as this state is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.”
Earlier, addressing members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Council (RSTRC) in the state on a solidarity visit to him at the Government House, Governor Fubara, said that one of the greatest and propelling reassurances emboldening his administration is the enormous support that Rivers people have continued to give unreservedly.
The governor emphasised that such support has continued to be exemplified by the words, actions and pledges of loyalty and solidarity from royal fathers and other well-meaning people in the state.
Fubara said that even if he knows of their support for his administration with what they had been doing in their domains, their visit provides a physical declaration that they are ready shoulders to lean on.
The governor stated the resolve of his administration never to engage in any acts of disrespect to the traditional institution in the state. He emphasised that royal fathers who should serve as a uniting force for all their subjects, contribute to keeping Rivers State peaceful and ensure its progress.
He said, “I will assure you that as a government, we will continue to respect this institution. We will not do anything within our powers directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly to undermine any of you.
“If we have wronged you in any way, let me say, I’m sorry to you here. But I don’t think we will wrong you deliberately because you are our fathers,” he added.
Fubara, however, approved the release of official vehicles to the traditional rulers, directing the Secretary to the State Government to work with the monarchs to ensure that those who need the cars get theirs and those who need cash in its place will get what they want.
In his address, the Chairman, RSTRC, His Majesty, Chike Worlu Wodo, said the Council, in a recent extraordinary meeting, reviewed some incidents in the state, and decided on the solidarity visit to the governor.
The chairman, who is also the Eze Oha Apara IV of Apara Kingdom, said they considered the solidarity visit necessary to avail them the opportunity to speak to Rivers people, politicians, their supporters as well as non-indigenes in the state who are fanning the embers of war in Rivers from their self location outside the state.
He stated that in the past one year, the administration of Governor Fubara has committed the resources of state into necessary critical, physical infrastructure and human capital development projects.
Eze Wodo said: “The Council also noted with satisfaction, the government’s investment in the security of lives and property as evident in the equipment of the Nigeria Police and other security apparatuses for optional functionality.
“Members of Council wish to appreciate His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, for the peaceful manner in which he handled the political challenges created in the state by some disgruntled elements before, during and after the October 5, 2024 local government elections.
“The Council also commended residents of the state for listening to the governor’s message of peace, and for being each other’s keeper during the just-concluded local government election, which was adjudged to be very peaceful even without security cover from the Nigeria police”.
Following the successful development recorded in the state, the State Council of Traditional Rulers passed a vote of confidence on Governor Fubara, and further stated the Council’s resolve to continue to support the governor in all his programmes and policies throughout his tenure.
Eze Wodo also said that the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers is not happy with some unpatriotic but prominent sons and daughters of the state who are instigating and funding violence in the state.
He noted that as members of the Council, they had witnessed, sadly, some of the acts of violence perpetrated in the state in recent weeks, which were carried out in broad daylight while the security agencies looked the other way.
Blessing Ibunge
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