Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has disclosed that his monthly salary is ₦503,000, revealing that Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service currently earn about ₦900,000 per month.
The governor made the disclosure while inaugurating 12 four bedroom terraced duplexes for Permanent Secretaries and presenting official vehicles to 12 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Oborevwori used the occasion to highlight his administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of civil servants and strengthen the working conditions of senior officials across the state.
According to the governor, the decision to increase the remuneration of Permanent Secretaries followed complaints that some directors were earning amounts that were almost comparable to what Permanent Secretaries received.
He explained that his administration responded by reviewing their earnings.
The governor stated that Permanent Secretaries now receive ₦900,000 monthly, while the Head of Service earns ₦1 million. He contrasted these figures with his own monthly salary of ₦503,000.
The disclosure has attracted attention because salaries of political office holders and senior public servants have remained a subject of public discussion in Nigeria, particularly at a time when citizens are dealing with rising living costs and economic pressures.
Oborevwori also used the event to explain that his administration’s approach to civil service welfare goes beyond salaries.
The governor said Delta State had provided official vehicles to serving Permanent Secretaries to improve their mobility and enable them to perform their administrative responsibilities more effectively. He subsequently presented another 12 vehicles to the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.
The state government has also introduced financial support programmes targeted at public officers.
According to Oborevwori, 302 beneficiaries have so far received assistance through the Public Officers’ Vehicle Loan Scheme, while another 119 people have benefited from the Public Officers’ Housing Loan Scheme.
The initiatives are designed to help government employees acquire vehicles and access housing support without having to rely entirely on their regular salaries.
The governor further disclosed that the state had provided farm inputs to civil servants interested in agriculture.
The initiative is intended to encourage workers to develop additional sources of income while also contributing to food production and food security in the state.
For a workforce facing increasing household expenses, the government believes such interventions can complement salaries and improve the overall welfare of employees.
Oborevwori also revealed that 450 senior management officers had benefited from a seven weekend training programme organised in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.
The training, according to the governor, was aimed at improving the professional capacity of senior government officials and equipping them with skills needed to deliver more effectively in their various positions.
The governor also addressed the process through which the 12 new Permanent Secretaries were appointed.
He said the appointments, which were made in May, ensured that every local government area in Delta State had a Permanent Secretary within the state civil service.
Oborevwori insisted that the recruitment process was based on merit rather than political recommendations.
He said he did not personally know the individual who was appointed from his own local government area and argued that this demonstrated that the process was not controlled by personal connections.
The governor’s comments come as Nigerian states continue to face pressure to improve the efficiency of their civil services while managing limited resources and growing demands for better public services.
Permanent Secretaries occupy some of the most senior positions in the state civil service. They play important roles in policy implementation, administration and the supervision of ministries and government departments.
Their responsibilities therefore require considerable experience and institutional knowledge, making their welfare and professional development important components of an effective public service.
For Delta State, the latest measures indicate an attempt to combine improved remuneration with other welfare initiatives, including housing support, vehicle loans, agricultural assistance and professional training.
The governor’s disclosure about his own salary has also generated public interest, particularly because the figure he cited is considerably lower than the amount he said Permanent Secretaries receive.
However, the figures disclosed by the governor should be understood within the broader structure of public office remuneration, where official salaries may represent only one component of the overall compensation and benefits associated with an office.
Oborevwori’s remarks nevertheless provide a rare public insight into the remuneration of senior officials within the Delta State civil service.
As the state continues to implement its civil service reforms, attention will remain on whether the welfare programmes translate into improved productivity, stronger institutional performance and better public service delivery.
For the governor, the message from the event was clear: improving the welfare and capacity of civil servants remains an important part of his administration’s agenda.
