Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has refuted reports claiming he proposed a minimum wage of N80,000 for workers in the state and local government areas, News About Nigeria reports.
The governor’s office issued a statement on Friday labelling these reports as “unverified claims.”
The false reports, which have been circulating online, suggested that Governor Fubara had promised to implement the N80,000 minimum wage.
However, Chief Press Secretary Nelson Chukwudi clarified the situation in an official statement.
“The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to claims circulating in an online media that the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has proposed to pay a new minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants in the state and local government areas,” Chukwudi said.
“Ordinarily, we would not have responded to this fake news, but for the wrong impression it would create in the minds of the public, especially civil servants in the state,” he added.
Chukwudi said that the claims made by Newsweekng.com in their article titled ‘Breaking News: Governor Fubara Proposes N80,000 minimum wage’ are “totally false and misleading.”
The statement urged the public, particularly civil servants, to disregard the unverified information.
“The general public, and particularly civil servants in the state, are advised to discountenance the false claims on the online media platform. The Rivers State Government will make its position on the issue known in due course,” Chukwudi concluded.
In related news, President Bola Tinubu has announced a new national minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, effective immediately.
President Tinubu also committed to reviewing the national minimum wage law every three years to ensure it remains fair and adequate.
During a recent meeting with labour leaders, President Tinubu expressed his support for the private sector and sub-national governments in implementing the new wage policy.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, highlighted the president’s commitment to supporting both the private and public sectors in adhering to the new minimum wage.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage,” Onanuga stated.
He also noted that during a meeting with leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), President Tinubu assured that he would address the demands of university unions regarding unpaid salaries.
The labour leaders praised President Tinubu for his proactive stance and fatherly gesture, acknowledging his efforts to meet the needs of Nigerian workers.
