Goodluck Jonathan calls for unified federal and state civil service salaries

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated for the harmonization of salary scales and administrative structures between Nigeria’s federal and state civil services. Speaking in Yenagoa during a fundraising event for the Bayelsa State Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Jonathan argued that public servants in comparable roles should receive equal treatment regardless of whether they work for the state or federal government.

Jonathan cited his experience as a governor, noting that he previously restructured the Bayelsa state civil service to introduce Grade Level 17 for directors to match federal standards. He emphasized that the caliber of personnel in state services is comparable to federal counterparts, making uniform grading and remuneration necessary.

The event also marked the foundation-laying ceremony for a proposed ₦500 million secretariat complex for retired permanent secretaries. The project, which is expected to take two years to complete, will include administrative offices, conference rooms, and recreational facilities. Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, represented by Head of Service Ebiye Sawyer, pledged government support for the initiative.