Rivers state governor Siminalayi Fubara has denied reports that he proposed a minimum wage of ₦80,000 for state and local government workers.

The governor's chief press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, issued a statement on the issue in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Friday, July 19.

According to The Punch, Chukwudi described the reports as "unverified claims" and "fake news" designed to create a wrong impression among the public and civil servants.

The governor's office stated that it would not have responded to the report but for the potential harm it could cause.

He advised the public and civil servants to disregard the claims, adding that the Rivers state government would make its position on minimum wage known in due course.

Has Tinubu, labour agreed on minimum wage?

The clarification came barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu and the national leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) agreed on ₦70,000 as a new minimum wage.

Tinubu and the union leaders reached an agreement after back-and-forth negotiations on the next minimum wage following the expiration of ₦30,000 minimum wage on April 18, 2024.

The labour said they dropped their ₦250,000 minimum wage demand after the president agreed to pay on the condition that the fuel price would be increased.