The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has approved an increase in the minimum wage for civil service employees to ₦80,000, effective November 1, 2024.
Additionally, Governor Diri approved a monthly pension increase for retired workers and allocated ₦7 billion to address outstanding gratuity liabilities.
His spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, shared this information through a statement, noting that the Bayelsa governor recognised the difficulties workers face in the state due to the increasing cost of living.
The statement read: “To address the harsh times and in line with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment Act 2024), the Prosperity Administration of His Excellency Senator Douye Diri has approved the sum of N80,000 as minimum wage for the state’s workers.
“Governor Diri also approved an increase in the monthly pension of state retire. The related consequential adjustments for the various sectors, as agreed with the leadership of Labour in the state, will be implemented.
“To further ameliorate the challenges of our retired senior citizens, His Excellency also approved the payment and reduction of the outstanding gratuity liabilities by Seven Billion Naira.”
He stated that Governor Diri appreciates the state’s workers and their leadership for their understanding, patience, and dedication to the Prosperity Government’s policies and programs. Diri’s approval came just three days after Enugu Governor Peter Mbah announced a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants in his state.
Several governors have recently enacted a new minimum wage for their state employees.
On October 16, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared that the minimum wage for public sector workers in the country’s commercial hub would be ₦85,000. Two days later, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, established ₦85,000 as the minimum wage for civil servants in his state. In July, President Bola Tinubu approved the minimum wage legislation, raising the baseline salary for workers from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.