Delta Makes 13th-Month Salary Law

EOB News Report

The Delta State House of Assembly has passed an Executive Bill seeking to institutionalise the payment of 13th-month salary to public servants in the state, potentially making Delta the first state in Nigeria to provide a statutory framework for the annual payment.

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

The development marks a significant shift from a welfare policy dependent on executive approval to one backed by legislation, giving public servants greater certainty about the payment and its continuity.

The House had earlier suspended the relevant Standing Orders to allow for the immediate consideration of the bill. The motion, moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, was adopted by the lawmakers.

Speaking shortly after the passage, Speaker Guwor described the legislation as a major step towards strengthening workers’ welfare and reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to legislation that directly affects the wellbeing of citizens.

According to him, the action was consistent with the constitutional principle that “the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people.”

Guwor said the passage also reinforced the welfare credentials of the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, describing the government as worker-friendly and welfare-oriented.

He declared that the payment of the 13th-month salary to Delta public servants “has come to stay,” expressing the hope that the policy would improve workers’ morale, productivity and service delivery.

The Speaker also commended Governor Oborevwori for initiating the policy, describing it as recognition of 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 would provide the necessary legal framework for the policy while promoting the welfare, morale and productivity of workers.

He noted that placing the payment on a statutory footing would give public servants greater assurance and certainty, rather than leaving its implementation entirely to administrative decisions.

Beyond the immediate financial benefit, the legislation introduces a broader dimension to public-sector welfare in Delta. By linking an additional annual benefit to workers’ welfare and productivity, the policy could become part of the state’s wider strategy for improving motivation and service delivery.

With its passage, Delta State is set to become the first state in Nigeria with a law providing a statutory framework for the payment of a 13th-month salary to its public servants, subject to the completion of the remaining legislative and assent processes.

The law is expected to provide institutional backing for the annual payment, strengthen the welfare package of public servants and reinforce the state government’s efforts to motivate its workforce towards improved productivity and more effective service delivery.

For thousands of public servants, the significance of the legislation therefore goes beyond an additional salary payment: it represents an attempt to turn an executive welfare initiative into an enduring component of the state’s public-service system.