NEWS
“My Salary Is ₦503,000, Permanent Secretaries Earn ₦900,000” — Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori Reveals
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has revealed that his monthly salary as governor is ₦503,000, an amount significantly lower than the ₦900,000 currently earned by Permanent Secretaries in the Delta State Civil Service.
The governor made the disclosure on Thursday during the inauguration of 12 newly completed four-bedroom terraced duplexes for Permanent Secretaries and the presentation of 12 official vehicles to newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Speaking at the event in a video posted by ARISE TV on YouTube, Oborevwori explained that his administration increased the salaries of Permanent Secretaries after concerns were raised that some Directors in the civil service were earning almost the same amount as them.
“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, my salary is 503,000, Governor’s salary.
“Head of Service is one million. It’s clear. So, you know some of them don’t want their husbands to know how much they are receiving,” he said.
The governor’s revelation drew attention to the administration’s efforts to improve the remuneration and welfare of senior civil servants, with the Head of Service earning ₦1 million monthly, according to Oborevwori.
He said the welfare of civil servants had remained a major priority of his administration since he assumed office, stressing that the government had continued to introduce measures aimed at improving their working conditions, mobility, housing and professional development.
As part of these efforts, Oborevwori said official vehicles had earlier been provided to serving Permanent Secretaries to enhance their efficiency and ease of movement.
“With the latest presentation of another 12 vehicles, the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are also being equipped with the necessary mobility support to effectively carry out their official responsibilities,” he said.
“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.
The governor further disclosed that hundreds of public officers had benefited from various loan schemes introduced by the state government.
According to him, 302 beneficiaries had received support under the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, while another 119 people had benefited from the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme.
Beyond salaries, housing and transportation, Oborevwori said the state government was also encouraging civil servants to explore additional productive ventures, particularly agriculture.
He disclosed that farm inputs had been provided to civil servants willing to venture into farming, a move aimed at helping them create additional sources of income while also contributing to improved food production and food security across the state.
The governor also highlighted the importance of continuous training and capacity development in the civil service, revealing that 450 senior management staff had received support to participate in a seven-weekend training programme through collaborations with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.
Oborevwori said the recent appointment of 12 Permanent Secretaries in May was also a deliberate effort to ensure equitable representation across the state, noting that every local government area in Delta now has a Permanent Secretary in the civil service.
He maintained that the appointment process was strictly based on merit rather than political influence, personal connections or recommendations.
“The process was properly done. Not by saying, 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 used the occasion to restate his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, saying Delta was among the first states to implement the national minimum wage.
He explained that the decision to pay the new wage in full followed consultations involving the Head of Service, the Commissioner for Information and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
In another major welfare announcement, Oborevwori said the state government had approved the payment of a 13th-month salary for civil servants, beginning from December this year.
He added that the administration was already taking steps to ensure that the policy would not end with his tenure by seeking legal backing from the Delta State House of Assembly.
“Not to forget that recently we approved the payment of 13th month salary for civil servants, beginning from December this year.
“It might interest you to know that we are in the process of sending an executive bill to the Delta State House of Assembly to give this gesture legal backing.
“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 added.
While assuring workers of continued government support, Oborevwori urged civil servants and political appointees to uphold the highest standards of discipline and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
He warned against absenteeism, nepotism, waste, inefficiency, bribery and corruption, stressing that such practices undermine effective governance and quality service delivery.
The governor said his administration would continue to invest in infrastructure and other institutional structures designed to improve resource optimisation, boost operational efficiency and strengthen service delivery across the Delta State public service.
He also called on the beneficiaries of the newly inaugurated duplexes, as well as other residents of the quarters, to take responsibility for the maintenance, security, preservation and cleanliness of the facilities.
The inauguration of the 12 four-bedroom terraced duplexes and the presentation of 12 official vehicles marked another step in the Delta State Government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare, working environment and living conditions of top-ranking civil servants in the state.