The Delta governor says Permanent Secretaries earn ₦900,000 monthly as his administration expands housing, transport and welfare support

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has disclosed that his monthly salary is ₦503,000, below the ₦900,000 earned by Permanent Secretaries in the state, while outlining a series of welfare measures for civil servants.

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Oborevwori made the disclosure on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Asaba, Delta State, during the inauguration of 12 four-bedroom terraced duplexes for Permanent Secretaries and the presentation of 12 official vehicles to newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.

Speaking at the event, the governor said the state government had reviewed the remuneration of Permanent Secretaries after concerns that their earnings were too close to those of directors.

“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,” Oborevwori said.

He added that the Head of Service earns ₦1 million monthly.

The governor used the occasion to highlight what he described as his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of public servants.

Oborevwori said official vehicles had been provided to serving Permanent Secretaries to improve their mobility and operational effectiveness, with another 12 vehicles presented to recently appointed officials.

He also disclosed that 302 public officers had benefited from the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, while 119 others had received assistance under the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme.

The administration, he said, had also provided farm inputs to civil servants interested in agriculture, with the initiative designed to create additional income opportunities while supporting food production.

Another 450 senior management officers, according to the governor, had received support to participate in a seven-weekend training programme organised in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.

The measures form part of a broader effort by the state government to improve productivity and strengthen the capacity of its workforce.

Oborevwori also pointed to the appointment of 12 Permanent Secretaries in May, saying the exercise ensured that each of Delta State’s local government areas had a Permanent Secretary in the state civil service.

He maintained that the appointments were based on merit rather than political 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 further highlighted the state’s implementation of the national minimum wage, saying Delta was among the first states to adopt the new wage after consultations with key officials and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

He also announced that the state had approved a 13th-month salary for civil servants, beginning in December 2026.

According to Oborevwori, the state government is preparing an executive bill to give the payment statutory backing, potentially making the benefit continue beyond his tenure.

“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 welfare initiatives come as state governments across Nigeria continue to balance demands for improved public-sector remuneration with the pressure to maintain sustainable expenditure.

For Delta, Oborevwori said the focus must extend beyond financial benefits to improved discipline and service delivery.

He urged civil servants and political appointees to reject absenteeism, nepotism, waste, inefficiency, bribery and corruption, stressing the need for greater accountability in the use of public resources.

The governor also charged beneficiaries of the newly inaugurated residential facilities to protect and maintain the properties, including their cleanliness and security.

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The event therefore combined a significant disclosure about Oborevwori salary with a wider presentation of the administration’s approach to public-sector welfare, training, housing and productivity.