Delta Assembly Passes 13th-Month Salary Bill for Public Servants

The Delta State House of Assembly has passed an Executive Bill seeking to institutionalise the payment of a 13th-month salary to public servants in the state.

The bill was passed on Tuesday following its third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.

The passage was described by the Assembly as a historic milestone in workers’ welfare and followed the suspension of relevant standing orders to enable the immediate consideration of the bill.

Reacting after the passage, Guwor commended members of the House for what he described as a bold step towards strengthening workers’ welfare in Delta State.

The Speaker said the Assembly had once again demonstrated that “the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people”, adding that the legislation underscored the commitment of the state government to the wellbeing of its workforce.

Guwor said the passage further validated the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as “a welfare-oriented and worker-friendly government”.

According to him, the payment of 13th-month salary to public servants in Delta State “has come to stay”, expressing optimism that the policy would boost workers’ morale, enhance productivity and improve service delivery.

The Speaker also commended Oborevwori for his foresight in initiating the welfare policy, describing it as a significant gesture to appreciate the contributions of public servants to the development of the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Establishment, Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Edafe Emakpor, presented the committee’s report on the bill.

Emakpor said the legislation was designed to provide a legal framework for the policy and improve the welfare and productivity of workers in the state.

“The bill is aimed at improving the morale, productivity and overall wellbeing of public servants in Delta State”, he said, stressing that institutionalising the payment would provide workers with greater assurance and certainty.

According to the Assembly, Delta State has become the first state in Nigeria to have a law providing a statutory framework for the payment of 13th-month salary to public servants.

The new legislation is expected to provide greater certainty and institutional backing for the annual payment, while further strengthening the welfare package of public servants and motivating them towards improved productivity and service delivery.