Delta Governor Reveals ₦503,000 Monthly Salary, Says Permanent Secretaries Earn ₦900,000

Delta Governor Reveals ₦503,000 Monthly Salary, Says Permanent Secretaries Earn ₦900,000

Asaba, Delta State – Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has made a surprising disclosure about the state’s salary structure, revealing that his monthly salary of ₦503,000 is significantly lower than the ₦900,000 earned by Permanent Secretaries in the state. He also disclosed that the Head of Service earns ₦1 million monthly, making it the highest-paid civil service position in Delta State. The governor made the revelation on Thursday during the inauguration of 12 four-bedroom terraced duplexes for Permanent Secretaries and the presentation of 12 official vehicles to newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Asaba, the state capital. His remarks, captured in a video posted by ARISE TV on YouTube, have sparked widespread discussions about salary structures in the public service.

According to Oborevwori, the state government increased the salaries of Permanent Secretaries in response to their complaints that some Directors 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,” he said. The governor added with a touch of humour, “So, you know some of them don’t want their husbands to know how much they are receiving.”

The salary increase for top civil servants was part of a broader welfare package approved by the governor. In June 2026, Oborevwori approved over 50 per cent increment in the salaries of the Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, alongside a threefold increase in cash prizes for outstanding public servants. This adjustment came after concerns were raised about salary compression, where Directors in the civil service were earning almost the same as their supervising Permanent Secretaries.

READ ALSO:

• Okocha Ignites Fresh GOAT Debate: Nigerian Legend Says Messi Is ‘Art,’ Ronaldo Is ‘Goalscorer Like Haaland’
• Just When You Thought Fuel Prices Were Falling – Dangote Refinery Pulls the Trigger Again
• History in Makkah: Nigerian Teen Wins Prestigious Qur’anic Contest, Breaks 46-Year Gender Barrier

Oborevwori also announced that his administration had prioritised the welfare of civil servants, noting that 302 public officers had benefited from the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, while 119 others had accessed the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme. Additionally, civil servants interested in agriculture have been provided with farm inputs to enable them to generate extra income while contributing to food production in the state. The governor stated that 450 senior management officers had been sponsored to participate in a seven-weekend training programme organised in partnership with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.

The governor further disclosed that Delta State was among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage after consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the Head of Service, the Commissioner for Information, and the Nigeria Labour Congress. He also announced the approval of a 13th-month salary for civil servants in the state, scheduled to commence from December 2026. The governor disclosed that the state government is 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 said.

The governor noted that the appointment of the 12 Permanent Secretaries in May ensured that all 25 local government areas in Delta State are now represented at the Permanent Secretary level in the state civil service. He emphasised that the appointments were based strictly on merit and were not influenced by 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’s salary disclosure has generated mixed reactions. While some commend his transparency, others have questioned the salary structure that allows top civil servants to earn more than the state’s chief executive. Critics argue that the revelation highlights a disconnect between government officials and ordinary citizens struggling with the cost of living crisis, noting that millions of Deltans can barely afford a single meal a day amid skyrocketing food and fuel prices. Supporters, however, view the disclosure as a demonstration of the governor’s commitment to transparency and the welfare of civil servants, noting the various initiatives his administration has introduced to improve the lot of state workers.

Oborevwori urged civil servants and political appointees to shun absenteeism, nepotism, waste, inefficiency, bribery and corruption, while promising continued investment in infrastructure and measures to improve service delivery.

Delta Governor Reveals ₦503,000 Monthly Salary, Says Permanent Secretaries Earn ₦900,000