Rivers
RSG Wants States To Fix Workers’ Pay
The Rivers State government has advocated for fiscal federalism on the fixing of minimum wage for public servants in the states of the federation.
The state Head of Service, Mrs. Esther Anucha made call last Thursday when members of the National Committee of Experts on Parameters for Wage fixing in the Federal Public Service visited her in her office in Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Auncha said the idea of a national minimum wage for workers was wrong, arguing that states should rather be granted autonomy to fix minimum wage for their workers according to their peculiarities and fiscal ability.
She also advised that agitations for increase in salaries and wages by individual Trade Unions, Associations and certain cadre of workers should be discouraged and discountenanced as this had caused disharmony among workers and could pose a threat to industrial peace and harmony between workers and the government.
The Head of Service urged the Committee to look into the wide gap between salaries of political office holders and public servants, stressing that the situation may generate disharmony among workers if not addressed.
Mrs. Anucha who commended the Terms of Reference of the Committee, however, noted that the peculiarities of the Niger Delta states and the welfare of retired public servants were not taken into consideration.
She expressed the belief that the findings of the committee would further consolidate the rapport and synergy between the Federal and State Public Services for the overall development of the nation and also foster industrial peace and harmony in the public service.
In his speech, the Chairman of the National Committee of Experts on Parameters for Wage Fixing in the Federal Public Service, Professor Vremudia Diejomaoh said the Committee was set up by the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to find solutions to the incessant disputes on salary adjustments between the government and public servants.
He said the Committee was charged with the responsibility of developing a wage policy that would adjust itself automatically based on agreed principles and parameters to enable workers benefit from regular changes in the economy, and so eliminate constant agitations on ad hoc basis, as well as ensure greater productivity and efficiency in the country, among other issues.
Concerned about the wide gap between the emoluments of political appointees and public servants, Professor Diemojoah said the committee would also critically examine the political, public, and judicial office holders’ salaries and allowances Amendment Act 2008 and its impact on pay relativities in the Federal Public Service and also advise on any other matter related to the terms of reference.
The chairman, thanked the Head of Service for the warm reception accorded them, saying, the nation wide four aims at making a comparative analysis of the experiences in the states and other stakeholders.
The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has given its breakdown of the Rivers’ 2025 budget.
The PHCCIMA President, Dr. Chinyere Nwaoga, gave the breakdown in a statement on Tuesday, saying the budget will unlock trapped N500 billion tax revenue from trapped or recovered assets.
She recalled that PHCCIMA had on December 31, 2024 lauded the appropriation bill of 2025 as presented by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and promised to analyse the budget.
“We promised to analyse the budget and share our position after extensive research and analysis.
“We set up a think-tank committee to review the monetary policy with the private sector practitioners and we have come up with a position”, she said.
Nwaoga noted that the 2025 total budget approximates N1.2 trillion to be N388 billion higher than the 2024 figure of N800 billion.
However, she noted that when adjusted for inflation, “the Net Present Value of the current budget is approximately N1.1 trillion”.
She explained that the naira’s depreciation by 90 per cent year-on-year from January 2024 has reduced the budget’s net value to about N700 billion.
According to her, this further illustrates how the fiscal policies at the centre can impact even the best run states.
She commended the Rivers government’s plan to spend N678 billion on capital expenditure, which is roughly 30 per cent more than the operating expenditure.
“The plan to allocate N31 billion to Agric and support programmes for youths posits a strategy for genuine empowerment”, she stated.
The PHCCIMA President also advised the government to create a credible youth and women database for articulated disbursements and monitoring.
She said: “There may be need to update or recreate a strategic state wide enumeration targeted at Rivers State population”.
Nwaoga also suggested that the government should consider allotting a percentage of accrued funds to an investor guarantee programme to attract investment funds aimed at commerce.
She noted that “the policy to explore counterparty funding with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) to support education is smart”.
The PHCCIMA boss commended the government’s plan to source and save funds for the budget through various means, including FAAC, IGR, statutory allocation, mineral funds, VAT, refunds, and others.
According to her, the budget demonstrates financial prudence and less emphasis on bank borrowing.
She suggested that the government should re-enact the Rivers State Statutory Savings Account and ensure that assets do not deplete in value.
Nwaoga recommended that “we estimate an additional N100 billion, and the expansion of the under-declared and undeclared revenue sources with corporates”.
She stressed the need for the government to emphasise attracting new investments and unlocking value from existing assets.
“Rivers State Government should emphasise attracting new investments and unlocking value from existing assets”, she said.
She, however, urged that the government should continue to pursue clearing the backlog of pension liabilities and consider implementing a revised salary structure to motivate the workforce.
The Rivers State Government is seeking the collaboration of relevant stakeholders to improve the conditions of women and children.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, disclosed this during a stakeholders engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as part of activities to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of Governor Siminalaye Fubara organised by the Ministry in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Uranta also stressed the need for a network of agencies and organisations working to improve the conditions of women and children across the state.
The Commissioner said the present administration under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has initiated policies towards improving the conditions of women and children in the State.
According to her, the present administration is ensuring that women and children have acess to quality health care and education.
She said the stakeholders’ engagement was to seek their views and opinions towards fashioning out policies and programmes that will further improve the conditions of women and children in the State.
Also speaking, the founder of Truvine Women International Ministries, Pastor (Mrs.) Ene Secondus, commended the Ministry for its commitment towards improving the conditions of women and children in the State.
Mrs. Secondus also commended the Ministry for the meeting, adding that it would provide opportunity for the various organisations to review their activities for the outgone year and also plan ahead .
She said her organisation,Truevine Women Ministry International, had visited several charity homes across the country and Internally Displaced Persons ( IDP) camps to assist them in various ways, calling on other groups to do same.
Also speaking, the Royal Father of the day, King Emmanuel Owurong, called on the Ministry to embark on sensitisation campaigns across schools in the State with a view to educating the girl child on the importance of education.
He said this would check the rampant cases of teenage pregnancies across rural communities in the State.
Earlier, the Director, Women Affairs, Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Camelita Agborubere, said the Ministry is now more concerned with gender development and equality in the society.
Agborubere said the mandate of the Ministry is to bring about equality and an inclusive society where everyone, irrespective of gender, will be equal.
The Director, however, said empowerment remains the only way out for women emancipation.
The meeting was attended by various non-governmental organisations across the state.
John Bibor
The Rivers State Government says the Port Harcourt Annual Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has been a source of blessings to the State.
The Stae Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stated this during the 2025 edition of the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last Sunday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said the RCCG has been of global impartation to all those who have faith in God Almighty, stressing that he believes the good Lord would touch everybody in their different areas of need.
“I believe that Rivers State will experience an unprecedented peace after this gathering and we shall move from victory to higher victory and also move from glory to higher glory to the manifestation of God Almighty”, he said.
In his sermon, titled: “Divine Manifestation”, drawn from Jeremiah 32:27, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said “Divine Manifestation refers to God showing who He is, by action”, stressing that most times God introduces Himself by His actions.
According to the cleric, the first time God introduced Himself to man was in Genesis 17:1, describing Himself as Jehovah Elshaddi, which means “the God who is more than sufficient”.
He urged the Christian faithful to call on God, especially in difficult times to receive solutions.
Earlier, the Intercontinental Youth Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Belemina Obunge, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for their support over the years, while praying for God’s guidance and blessings over the State.