Public servants in Delta State may soon have a legally guaranteed 13th-month salary, following the passage of a bill by the State House of Assembly on Tuesday.
The bill seeks to turn the annual payment of the additional salary from a government policy into a statutory entitlement for eligible workers.
The legislation was passed after it scaled its third reading during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
The House had earlier suspended its relevant standing orders to allow the bill to be considered and passed immediately. 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 proposed law would provide a legal framework for the payment of the additional salary.
Emakpor said giving the policy legal backing would give workers greater certainty and could improve their morale, productivity and welfare.
The development follows the state government’s existing policy of paying public servants an additional salary at the end of the year.
Speaking after the passage, Guwor described the bill as a major step towards strengthening workers’ welfare in the state.
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for initiating the 13th-month salary policy, saying it recognised the contribution of public servants to the development of Delta.
The Speaker said the payment “has come to stay,” adding that the policy would boost workers’ morale, productivity and service delivery.
Guwor described the Oborevwori administration as worker-friendly, saying the legislation would give stronger institutional support to its welfare policies.
With the passage of the bill, the 13th-month salary policy is set to move from an annual government initiative towards a legal entitlement, subject to the remaining legislative and assent processes required for it to become law.
