begins payment of new ₦80,000 minimum Wage, clears arrears
Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has confirmed the commencement of payments based on the new minimum wage for public sector workers, alongside the settlement of outstanding arrears.
This disclosure was made by the technical adviser to the governor on accounts, revenue, and finance, Mr. Timpre Seipulo, during the state’s transparency briefing for march and April 2025, held in Yenagoa.
Mr. Seipulo announced that the state’s financial balance stood at over N174.4 billion as of the end of April 2025.
Governor Douye Diri had earlier announced during the 2025 may day celebrations that his administration was committed to implementing the new ₦80,000 minimum wage, along with a 25% and 35% salary increment for workers across various grades.
Less than a month after the governor’s announcement, Mr. Seipulo confirmed that the state government had begun implementation of the new wage structure.
Providing a breakdown, Mr. Seipulo stated that salaries for March amounted to ₦6.1 billion, while April salaries totaled ₦6.5 billion. He added that ₦266 million was used to pay arrears on the new minimum wage from the previous year. Furthermore, ₦363 million was disbursed for gratuities, ₦193 million for pension arrears, and ₦1.7 billion was paid to political appointees in April.
He also reported that while recurrent expenditure for the period stood at over ₦6 billion, capital expenditure reached over ₦63 billion. Some of the major capital projects funded during the two-month period include:
Furthermore,₦16 billion for the Yenagoa Phase 2 and 3 road projects,₦3 billion for the State Independent Power Plant,Over ₦10 billion for clearing and sand filling the Ekeremor Toru-Ndoro-Agge Road,₦4 billion for the Nembe Brass Road project.
“According to him funding for the dualization of the Sampou Odi road, shoreline protection, and reclamation works at the new stadium site,purchase of security vehicles and other infrastructure related expenditures.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that the government would continue its tradition of regularly informing the public on its financial activities.
The briefing was also attended by the state accountant general, Mr. Tokoni Ifidi, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Information, Mr. Ifiemeya Borisei, and the director of Bayelsa new media, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe.
