Delta workers to get 13th-month salary as Assembly passes bill

The Delta State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to give legal backing to the annual payment of a 13th-month salary to public servants in the state.

The Executive Bill was passed on Tuesday after it scaled its third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor.

The proposed law is aimed at making the additional annual salary a statutory entitlement for eligible public servants, rather than leaving its payment solely to administrative policy.

Before considering the bill, the House suspended its relevant standing orders to allow for its immediate passage.

The motion, moved by the House Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, was adopted by the lawmakers.

Presenting the report of the House Committee on Establishment, Ethics and Privileges, its chairman, Edafe Emakpor, said the bill was designed to create a legal framework for the payment of the additional salary.

He said the proposed legislation would provide workers with greater certainty while improving their morale, productivity and general welfare.

The passage of the bill followed the state government’s policy of paying public servants an additional salary at the end of the year.

Reacting to the development, Guwor described the legislation as a significant step towards strengthening workers’ welfare.

He said the Assembly had demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of the people through the passage of the bill.

Guwor also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for initiating the policy, describing it as recognition of the contributions of public servants to the development of the state.

He said the payment of the 13th-month salary “has come to stay.”

According to him, the policy would boost workers’ morale, increase productivity and improve service delivery.

The Speaker further described the Oborevwori administration as worker-friendly, saying the legislation would provide stronger institutional support for its welfare initiatives.

Emakpor had earlier said that putting the policy into law would ensure greater certainty for workers and contribute to improved productivity across the public service.

The bill is expected to provide statutory backing for the annual payment once it completes the remaining legislative and assent processes required for it to become law.

The development is expected to strengthen the welfare package of public servants and provide greater clarity on the continuation of the 13th-month salary policy in Delta State. (Punch)