Emohua LG workers salary protest in Rivers as staff demand payment of seven months unpaid wages, while council cites verification exercise

There was tension in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, March 20, 2026, as local government workers staged a protest over the non-payment of their salaries for seven months, in a development that has heightened concerns around the Emohua LG workers salary protest Rivers situation.

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The aggrieved workers took to the streets carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, expressing frustration over what they described as prolonged financial hardship and neglect.

Some of the protesters said the prolonged delay had left them unable to meet basic needs such as feeding, rent, and school fees for their children.

“We have families to take care of. Seven months without salary is unbearable,” one of the workers lamented during the protest.

Several workers also accused the local government leadership of insensitivity, insisting that repeated appeals had not yielded any meaningful response.

In response, the chairman of the council, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, defended the delay, explaining that the issue was linked to an ongoing staff verification exercise aimed at eliminating ghost workers and ensuring accountability in the payroll system.

He stated that the process was necessary to promote transparency and financial discipline within the local government administration.

“The process is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in salary payments,” he said.

He further assured that outstanding salaries would be paid once the verification exercise is completed, urging workers to remain patient and cooperate with authorities.

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Despite the explanation, the protest reflects growing dissatisfaction among local government staff and raises wider concerns about governance and welfare at the grassroots level in Rivers State.