Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has announced that his administration has saved ₦5 billion from the August salary bill following a comprehensive staff verification exercise.

The exercise, he explained, successfully distinguished genuine workers from impostors on the payroll, freeing funds that will be redirected to delivering critical projects that will drive the state’s development.

Vice Admiral Ibas made the disclosure on Tuesday during the 2025 Civil Service Week Celebration held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt.

The event also featured the unveiling of the new Rivers State Civil Service Handbook and The Bureaucrat magazine by the Administrator while Acting Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown unviled the vision, mission and the pledge. These publications are designed to guide, inform, and showcase the work of civil servants while promoting efficiency and ethical standards.

Vice Admiral Ibas said, “My heart is filled with gratitude for the dedication of Rivers civil servants who are the backbone of my administration. Their support and contribution have sustained the peace we enjoy in this state. We honour them as our unsung heroes who keep government working.”

This year’s celebration is themed “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,” with the sub-theme “Empowering the Rivers State Civil Service: A New Era of Innovation, Productivity, and Excellence.”

The administrator outlined various reform initiatives undertaken by his administration to retool the state’s civil service. These include:

Capacity Building: Large-scale training and upskilling programs, particularly for accounting and finance staff — the first of their kind in the state.

Improved Welfare: An upward salary review for heads of agencies to reflect economic realities.

Minimum Wage for LG Workers: Implementation of an ₦85,000 minimum wage for local government workers to encourage dedication, accountability, and improved service delivery.

Verification Exercise: The first-ever verification of local government staff to ensure accurate personnel records, which also yielded significant savings.

Health and Insurance Schemes: Mandatory enrollment of workers in the state’s contributory health protection programme (17% government, 8% staff), as well as the upcoming Group Life Insurance Scheme to ensure prompt benefits for families of deceased workers.

Support for Retirees: Verification of pensioners locally and abroad to clean up records, implementation of a ₦32,000 consequential adjustment, and compulsory health insurance for retirees. Monthly pension releases were increased from ₦2 billion to ₦2.6 billion.

Vice Admiral Ibas emphasised that the civil service remains central to the state’s reform efforts and development vision. He assured staff whose salaries are pending to present themselves for verification with the required documents in order to be paid promptly.

He also commended the Galaxy Backbone for enriching the celebration through lectures that motivated the workforce.

On the state’s media sector, he announced plans to revamp government-owned media organisations to boost professionalism and efficiency.

“Our administration is building a civil service that is world-class, resilient, and dedicated. Together, with one dialogue and collective trust, we will sustain peace, human rights, and development in Rivers State,” Ibas affirmed.

In her welcome address, the Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, described the occasion as an opportunity for civil servants to reflect on the vital role they play in driving the development of Rivers State. She noted that it was also a time to evaluate their contributions, values, and the teamwork that propels them toward excellence.

Speaking on the theme, “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future,” with the sub-theme, “Empowering the Rivers State Civil Service: A New Era of Innovation, Productivity, and Excellence,” Dr. Brown said the celebration would usher workers into a renewed season of productivity and distinction befitting the service.

“With the knowledge and tools that modern technology provides, we are positioned to build a civil service that is agile, responsive, and effective. As part of this commitment, we will launch our pledge, vision, and mission statement to guide our actions in integrity, impartiality, and diligence.

“Our aspiration is to become world-class professionals who deliver quality services that drive productivity, sound management, and the highest ethical standards—all in support of good governance. As the engine of government and custodians of policy, our professionalism and the quality of service we deliver are directly reflected in the lives of the people we serve,” she added.

She also announced the launch of The Bureaucrat magazine and the Rivers State Civil Service Handbook, both designed to inform, guide, and showcase civil servants’ work while promoting efficiency.

Dr. Brown expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the State Administrator, who has approved training opportunities for staff across all cadres and grade levels. She also acknowledged the provision of essential resources, including a dedicated generator to power elevators, aimed at enhancing service delivery.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Barikor Livinus Baribuma, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of retrospection, noting that it should inspire improved service delivery and the embrace of technology as a tool for reform.

“We will continue to leverage the support provided by Vice Admiral Ibas through technology, as well as through improved skills and knowledge, on the path of innovation for a sustainable future for our state.”

The Programme Director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Wumi Oghoetuoma, representing the Managing Director, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, delivered the theme lecture titled: “Digital Transformation and its Impact on Public Service Delivery: The Nigerian Federal Government Experience and Opportunity for Rivers State.”

He emphasised that integrating technology into the modern workplace enhances the learning, working, and growth experiences of workers, driving efficiency and adaptability—while clarifying that technology is not meant to replace workers, but to empower them.