The Rivers State Administration, led by Administrator Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has reported a monumental saving of Five Billion Naira (N5,000,000,000) from its August salary bill after a comprehensive staff verification exercise.
The disclosure was made by Vice Admiral Ibas on Tuesday at the grand finale of the 2025 Civil Service Week Celebration held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt. He explained that the verification exercise exposed non-existent staff and impostors on the government payroll, helping to cut wastage and redirect funds.
“This verification exercise has enabled us to distinguish genuine staff from impostors on the payroll,” Administrator Ibas said. “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.”
He assured that the recovered money would be channeled into critical development projects and programmes to directly benefit the people of Rivers State.
The celebration, themed “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,” was also used to honour the state’s civil servants. Vice Admiral Ibas described them as “the backbone of this administration and our unsung heroes.”
During his address, he highlighted reforms aimed at strengthening the civil service. These include an upward review of salaries and allowances for Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to reduce the wage gap between them and political office holders. A new N85,000 minimum wage has also been introduced at the local government level.
The Administrator announced capacity-building efforts with major training and upskilling programmes already underway. Finance and accounting officers have received the first large-scale training, while more sessions are planned for senior and middle-level staff to improve public service delivery.
On pension matters, he said allocations have been increased from N2 billion to N2.6 billion monthly to guarantee timely payments. He added that all pensioners, both in Nigeria and abroad, have been verified and enrolled in the state’s contributory health scheme.
For health protection, Ibas disclosed that all workers are now mandated to join the state’s contributory health protection programme, where government contributes 17 percent and staff 8 percent. He further revealed plans for a Group Life Insurance programme to ensure prompt payment of entitlements to families of deceased workers.
In media development, he announced the revitalization of state-owned media outlets including RSBC, RSTV, and The Newspaper Corporation. Renovation, new equipment, and modern upgrades are part of the comprehensive plan to boost information delivery and strengthen government communication channels.
“With accurate data and a reinvigorated workforce, Rivers State is set on a path of sustainable growth and excellence in governance,” the Administrator said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The event also saw 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. She also introduced a new pledge, vision, and mission statement for the civil service, stressing the importance of technology in building an agile, responsive, and effective public service.
Dr. Brown noted that the reforms are designed to promote efficiency, ethical standards, and improved delivery of government programmes to meet the state’s development goals.