PORT HARCOURT — The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has pledged to reject the salary and allowances attached to the office if elected governor in 2027.
Lulu-Briggs made the commitment while speaking with journalists in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state.
He said any money that would ordinarily be paid to him as governor would instead be directed towards programmes designed to support widows across Rivers State.
Candidate Promises Accountability
Lulu-Briggs also pledged to ensure transparency in the management of public funds if his party wins the governorship election.
“When we have the opportunity to manage government resources, I can promise Rivers people that their every penny would be accounted for,” he said.
The NDC candidate said his decision to reject the governor’s salary was inspired by the approach he attributed to his party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He said he intended to adopt what he described as Obi’s example by refusing to personally collect the salary attached to the office.
Salary To Support Widows
According to Lulu-Briggs, the funds would instead be used regularly to support widows and finance initiatives intended to provide direct assistance to residents.
“I will follow the example of my principal, Peter Obi, by refusing to collect the governor’s salary. Instead, those funds will be directed towards programmes and initiatives that will directly benefit the people of Rivers State,” he said.
He further stated that the money would be used to assist widows on a regular basis.
“I’m sure I’m going to be like my principal campaigning for president, Peter Obi. I would not even be asking for any salary. Every month, any salary would go into assisting one widow or the other,” he said.
Lulu-Briggs Seeks Rivers Mandate
The pledge forms part of Lulu-Briggs’ broader campaign message ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.
His comments centred on public accountability and the use of government resources for social programmes.
The candidate presented the proposed salary arrangement as a personal commitment rather than a change to the statutory remuneration attached to the office of governor.
If elected, any decision concerning his official remuneration would also operate within the applicable legal and administrative framework governing the office.
Lulu-Briggs is seeking the Rivers governorship ticket under the NDC, while the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is campaigning for the presidency in the 2027 general election.
The Rivers governorship contest is expected to feature candidates from several political parties competing for control of the state government.
For Lulu-Briggs, however, the pledge to forgo his personal salary is intended to demonstrate his stated commitment to directing public resources towards vulnerable residents, particularly widows across the state.
