Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has signed the Thirteenth Month Salary Law, 2026, into law, establishing an additional annual salary benefit for eligible public servants in the state. The governor assented to the legislation on Wednesday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Asaba, alongside four other bills designed to improve judicial administration, strengthen property protection and reform the state’s revenue system. Oborevwori said the decision reflected his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and strengthening public institutions under its MORE Agenda. The development provides a legal foundation for an additional annual salary payment at a time when Nigerian workers continue to face pressure from rising living costs.
The new legislation is intended to institutionalise the 13th-month salary as a recurring statutory benefit rather than an occasional payment dependent solely on executive discretion. Under the arrangement previously explained by the state government, eligible workers are to receive an additional payment equivalent to their regular monthly earnings, rather than a bonus calculated only on basic salary. This means that a qualifying worker may receive the equivalent of two monthly salary payments in December, subject to the applicable implementation rules. The government has not published a complete eligibility schedule or payroll implementation timetable in the reports accompanying Wednesday’s signing ceremony. Those details will be important in establishing precisely how the entitlement applies to different categories of public servants.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said the salary initiative is intended to reward workers and improve productivity in Delta State.
Speaking after signing the bills, Oborevwori explained that the additional salary was intended to recognise the contributions of public servants, strengthen employee motivation and improve service delivery. He maintained that meaningful development involves not only physical infrastructure but also policies that directly improve people’s lives. The governor linked the new legislation to his administration’s broader efforts to modernise public institutions and promote economic activity across Delta State. He commended the State House of Assembly for its cooperation in passing the bills and urged the relevant ministries, departments and agencies to ensure their provisions are properly implemented. The signing marked the completion of the legislative process for the five measures announced at the ceremony.
The 13th-month salary policy had been under consideration for several months before receiving gubernatorial assent. On July 3, 2026, the Delta State Executive Council approved a proposal to make the additional salary a permanent benefit for civil servants. The proposal was subsequently transmitted to the Delta State House of Assembly, which passed the executive bill on September 15 after its third reading. During the legislative process, Speaker Emomotimi Guwor described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening public service welfare. The sequence of executive approval, legislative passage and final assent demonstrates the government’s decision to give the payment a statutory basis intended to outlast individual administrations.
Presenting the five bills for assent, Speaker Emomotimi Guwor explained that the legislation was intended to strengthen governance, protect investments and improve the welfare of public employees. He identified the additional annual salary as a central benefit for eligible public servants, while noting that the other laws addressed important institutional and administrative concerns. The Speaker’s remarks reflected the Assembly’s position that public welfare, institutional effectiveness and economic development should be pursued through legislation capable of providing continuity. With the governor’s signature, the 13th-month payment has moved from an executive welfare initiative to a benefit established under state law, although the operational details must still be communicated to affected workers.
The outgoing Delta State Head of Service, Dr Mininim Oseji, welcomed the legislation, describing it as a positive development for workers and their families. She expressed appreciation to the governor and suggested that the additional income could stimulate business activity across the state by improving household spending capacity. Workers who receive the benefit may be better positioned to meet education expenses, transportation costs, household obligations and other financial commitments during the end-of-year period. However, the broader economic effect will depend on the number of eligible employees, the total amount disbursed and the consistency of implementation. The government has not disclosed a final annual expenditure figure for the additional salary benefit in the announcements reviewed.
Beyond workers’ welfare, Oborevwori signed two judicial amendment laws intended to improve the administration of justice in Delta State. One increases the authorised number of High Court judges from 46 to 50, while the other raises the number of Customary Court of Appeal judges from nine to 12. The government said the measures would strengthen the capacity of the courts, support more effective case management and improve access to justice. Increasing judicial positions could help address growing caseloads, although actual improvements will depend on appointments, adequate funding, court infrastructure and administrative support. The amendments form part of the administration’s wider effort to strengthen public institutions and improve service delivery.
The governor also signed the Public and Private Properties Protection Amendment Law, aimed at strengthening legal safeguards against unlawful occupation and the destruction of property. The measure is intended to protect public assets, private investments and lawful property interests across the state. At the same ceremony, Oborevwori assented to the Delta State Revenue Service (Consolidated) Law, 2026, which seeks to harmonise tax administration and reduce multiple taxation. The government expects the revenue legislation to improve the business environment and encourage investment by making revenue collection more coordinated. However, the detailed enforcement provisions and their practical effects will depend on implementation by the responsible agencies.
Delta State’s public service workforce is expected to benefit from the statutory additional salary payment.
The 13th-month salary legislation comes amid continuing concerns about the cost of living, inflation and the financial pressure facing public employees in Nigeria. Additional annual income could help eligible workers meet household expenses, support their dependants and manage financial commitments without relying as heavily on short-term borrowing. The state government has previously argued that the measure is financially sustainable, with Commissioner for Works and Public Information Charles Aniagwu citing growth in internally generated revenue. In September, Aniagwu reported that annual state revenue had increased from approximately 75 billion Naira in 2023 to 204 billion Naira. Those figures were presented by the government as evidence of its capacity to sustain the welfare initiative, although continued funding will depend on revenue performance and competing budgetary obligations.
As of October 28, 2026, the Thirteenth Month Salary Law and four accompanying legislative measures have received Governor Oborevwori’s assent. The signing represents a significant step towards providing a recurring additional salary benefit for eligible public servants while introducing reforms affecting the judiciary, property rights and revenue administration. The immediate focus will now shift to implementation, including confirmation of eligibility, payroll arrangements and the funding required for the annual payments. The state government has directed relevant agencies to give effect to the laws, while workers will be looking for clear information about when and how they will receive the entitlement. For Delta State, the effectiveness of the reforms will ultimately be determined by consistent salary payments, improved judicial services, stronger property protection and a more efficient tax administration system.
