Delta Assembly Advances 13th-Month Salary Bill for Public Servants

The proposed Delta State Payment of Thirteenth Month Salary Bill, 2026, sponsored as an executive bill, scaled first reading during Tuesday’s plenary of the House.

The sitting was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, as lawmakers also considered two other executive amendment bills.

At the commencement of proceedings, the House suspended relevant Standing Rules following a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker to allow the member representing Ndokwa West Constituency, Hon. Charles Emetulu, to serve as Acting Leader in the absence of the substantive Leader and Deputy Leader.

Acting in that capacity, Emetulu presented three executive bills for first reading.

They were the Delta State Payment of Thirteenth Month Salary Bill, 2026, Delta State High Court Amendment Bill, 2026, and Delta State Customary Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, 2026.

If eventually passed and assented to, the 13th-month salary legislation would provide a statutory framework for the payment of an additional month’s salary to eligible public servants in Delta State.

In another major development, the Assembly screened and confirmed Mr. Emasogbe Matthew Oghene as the new Auditor-General of Delta State.

The screening was conducted during a sitting of the House Committee of the Whole, with the member representing Ethiope West Constituency, Hon. Blessing Achoja, presenting Oghene as his constituent.

Following the screening, the nominee received the approval of the lawmakers.

Auditor-General and urged him to deploy his experience towards strengthening accountability, transparency and sound financial management in the state.

Assembly Adopts Report on 25 Local Government Councils

The House also considered and unanimously adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Public Accounts on the report of the Auditor-General for Local Governments covering the financial statements of Delta State’s 25 Local Government Councils for the year ended December 2025.

Presenting the committee’s findings, its Chairman, Hon. James Augoye, called on the councils to improve their internal revenue generation and ensure strict adherence to applicable local government laws, financial regulations and accounting procedures.

The House adopted the recommendations through a unanimous voice vote.

Speaker Guwor commended the Public Accounts Committee for what he described as a thorough review of the councils’ financial statements, noting that its recommendations would help strengthen accountability and financial management at the grassroots.

The Delta State House of Assembly subsequently adjourned plenary to Wednesday, September 9, 2026.