Ogona Anita
Rivers State, government, has declared it saved monumental Five Billion Naira (₦5,000,000,000) from its August salary bill following a comprehensive staff verification exercise.
The significant disclosure was made by the River State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-ete Ibas, during the grand finale of the 2025 Civil Service Week Celebration held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, the State Capital.
The administrator stated that the verification exercise successfully identified and removed non-existent staff and impostors from the government payroll.
He emphatically declared that the recovered funds would be immediately channelled into critical development projects and programmes designed for the direct benefit of the people of Rivers State.
“This verification exercise has enabled us to distinguish genuine staff from impostors on the payroll. The ₦5 billion saved is not just a figure; it is a testament to our commitment to fiscal responsibility. These funds will now be strategically invested in critical infrastructure and social projects to accelerate the sustainable development of Rivers State,” the administrator said.
The event, themed “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,” served as a platform to honour the state’s civil servants, whom the administrator described as “the backbone of this administration and our unsung heroes.”
In a wide-ranging address, Vice Admiral Ibas outlined a bold vision for a revitalised civil service, announcing a series of transformative reforms already underway:
Enhanced Welfare: An upward review of salaries and allowances for Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to bridge the wage gap with political office holders.
A new ₦85,000 minimum wage has been implemented at the local government level.
Capacity Building: Significant investment in training and upskilling programmes, including the first large-scale training for finance and accounting officers, with more planned for senior and middle-level staff.
Pensioner Support: Monthly pension allocations have been increased from N2 billion to N2.6 billion to ensure timely payments, and all pensioners, both domestically and abroad, have been verified and enrolled in the state’s contributory health scheme.
Health & Insurance: Mandatory enrollment of all workers in the state’s contributory health protection programme (Government: 17%, Staff: 8%). A Group Life Insurance programme will soon take effect to ensure prompt payment of entitlements to families of deceased workers.
Media Revitalization
A full-scale revitalisation of state-owned media establishments, including Rivers State Broadcasting, Rivers State Television and The Newspaper Corporation, involving renovation, new equipment, and modern upgrades.
The administrator reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence. “With accurate data and a reinvigorated workforce, Rivers State is set on a path of sustainable growth and excellence in governance,” he declared.
The event also featured the unveiling of the new Rivers State Civil Service Handbook and the inaugural edition of The Bureaucrat magazine by the Acting Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown.
These publications are designed to guide, inform, and showcase the work of civil servants while promoting efficiency and ethical standards.
Dr. Brown launched a new pledge, vision and mission statement for the service, emphasising the critical role of technology in building an agile, responsive, and effective civil service capable of delivering on the state’s ambitious development agenda.
Meanwhile chairman of Rivers state civil service commission, Clifford Ndu Walter says the just concluded verification exercise for civil servants in the state will help restore integrity in the system.
The civil service chairman made this known at the 2025 civil service week in port harcourt. He described the reforms in the civil service as historic and capable of boosting the workforce
The Acting Head of Service in Rivers state, Inyingi Brown emphasized the importance of technology in repositioning civil service in the state. She reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to build a smarter and more responsive service.
She also unveiled the new civil service handbook and maiden edition of ” Bureaucratic magazine”
