Ahead of the 2025 May Day celebrations, Bayelsa State has approved the implementation of a 25 percent and 35 percent salary increase and the payment of six months’ arrears to its workers, including members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this known while briefing leaders of organized labour in the state at a meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the deputy governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said the implementation of the salary increase takes effect from November 2024, adding that the state government had earlier approved the same for its employees in tertiary institutions.
The statement noted that the implementation, which is stratified according to grade levels, is to commence from next month, while the revolving payment of the resultant six months’ arrears will be spread across one year in batches.
According to the deputy governor, the state government will work out modalities for the payment of the arrears on a ministry by ministry basis per month because of the huge financial implications.
He further clarified that permanent secretaries and other government employees on grade level 17 would benefit 35 percent, while 25 percent would be paid to all employees on grade level 16 and below.
“The governor has approved the implementation of the 25 percent and 35 percent, as earlier approved for the tertiary institutions.
“And the benchmark is clear. Those on grade level 17 and the permanent secretaries are placed at 35 percent, while every other person below 17 is 25 percent.
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“That is the yardstick we used because we juxtaposed it against what the federal government has done. So that has been approved.
“But we want to make it clear that the government will not pay the whole arrears at the same time because of the amount of money involved.
“It runs into billions of naira. So, we will spread the payment across one year and take MDA by MDA,” he said.
The state Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, expressed gratitude to the Governor Douye Diri administration for giving the approval, noting it would go a long way to strengthen the existing friendly government-labour relations in the state.
Speaking on behalf of organized labour, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Simon Barnabas and his Joint Public Service Negotiating Council counterpart, Comrade Andabai Sonia, thanked the state government for the good gesture towards workers.