My Monthly Salary Is ₦503,000, Perm Secs Earn ₦900,000 – Delta Governor Oborevwori

Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has disclosed that he earns a monthly salary of ₦503,000, while Permanent Secretaries in the state receive ₦900,000 and the Head of Service earns ₦1 million.

The governor made the disclosure during the inauguration of 12 four-bedroom terraced duplexes built for permanent secretaries and the presentation of 12 official vehicles to newly appointed permanent secretaries in Asaba.

Oborevwori explained that the salaries of permanent secretaries were reviewed upward after they complained that some directors were earning nearly as much as they did.

“When the permanent secretaries said most of the directors are receiving almost the same thing with them, we increased their money. Today, permanent secretaries, your salary is ₦900,000; my salary is ₦503,000, Governor’s salary.

“Head of Service is ₦1 million,” he said.

The governor said his administration had prioritised the welfare of civil servants and introduced several measures aimed at improving their working conditions and productivity.

He said the provision of official vehicles for Permanent Secretaries was intended to enhance their mobility and enable them to perform their responsibilities more effectively.

“To enhance their mobility and operational efficiency, we provided official vehicles to serving Permanent Secretaries. And today, it is my pleasure to present another 12 vehicles to the Permanent Secretaries that were recently sworn in,” he said.

Oborevwori disclosed that 302 public officers had so far benefited from the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, while another 119 had accessed the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme.

He added that the government had also distributed farm inputs to civil servants interested in agriculture, enabling them to pursue additional sources of income while contributing to food production.

According to the governor, 450 senior management staff had benefited from a seven-weekend training programme organised in partnership with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.

Oborevwori said the appointment of 12 Permanent Secretaries in May was intended to ensure that every local government area in Delta State was represented in the upper cadre of the civil service.

He stressed that the appointments were based on merit rather than political influence.

“The process was properly done. Even the one that was appointed in my place, I don’t even know the person. All the Permanent Secretaries appointed, no one was recommended by anybody, but by merit,” he said.

The governor also said Delta State was among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage, adding that his administration agreed to pay the approved wage in full after consultations with organised labour and relevant government officials.

He further announced that the state had approved a 13th-month salary for civil servants, beginning in December this year.

“Recently, we approved the payment of 13th month salary for civil servants, beginning from December this year,” Oborevwori said.

He said the government was preparing an executive bill to provide legal backing for the payment, with the aim of ensuring that the policy continues after the expiration of his administration.

“So, it is something that is compulsory. By the time it has legal backing, even when I leave office in 2031, they will still be paying you your 13th month salary,” he said.

The governor urged civil servants and political appointees to avoid absenteeism, nepotism, wastefulness, inefficiency, bribery and corruption.

He assured that his administration would continue to invest in infrastructure and other facilities to improve resource utilisation, efficiency and service delivery across the state.

Oborevwori also appealed to beneficiaries of the newly inaugurated housing facilities and other residents of the quarters to maintain the buildings, safeguard government property and keep their surroundings clean and secure.