Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed the reasons for the delay in implementing the new minimum wage in the state.

Fubara speaking at the 2024 Rivers State Civil Service Week in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, August 22 disclosed that is awaiting the federal government’s release of approved guidelines for implementing the new minimum wage.

He assured stakeholders that the state will be the first to implement the new minimum wage once the modalities are released by the federal government.

He also used the opportunity to applaud civil servants as the institutional memory of government and acknowledged their crucial role in various aspects of life and governance.

The governor highlighted his administration’s efforts to improve the lives of civil servants, including increased payment of ₦2 billion monthly to offset the backlog of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants. He also reiterated his commitment to training resident doctors, recruiting new medical staff, and introducing a state health insurance scheme.

Governor Fubara urged civil servants to embrace President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance productivity.

It can be recalled that President Tinubu in July signed the minimum wage bill into law. This followed its passage by the National Assembly National.

The bill increases the National Minimum Wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.