The Rivers State Government has approved an additional ₦1 billion to its Pension Fund, raising the total to ₦2 billion, as announced by Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara presided over the meeting, accompanied by Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and other council members. Following the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson, spoke to journalists, commending the Governor’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of the state’s pensioners.
In a statement released by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Johnson said, “The Council appreciates His Excellency for adding ₦1 billion to the Pension Fund, raising it from ₦1 billion to ₦2 billion. This initiative is part of the Governor’s broader welfare strategy for both active and retired civil servants.”
In addition to the pension fund increase, the Rivers State Executive Council also approved the extension of the retirement age for teachers by five years, as announced by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke. The new policy applies to professional teachers registered with the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), allowing them to retire at the age of 65 or after 40 years of service, whichever comes first.
Dr. Nwaeke clarified that this extension only applies to classroom teachers and not to administrative or non-teaching staff. The policy’s implementation is immediate, in line with the national directive.