Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has approved a N150,000 Christmas bonus for all civil servants in the state as part of measures to ease the economic pressures associated with the 2025 festive season.
The governor made the announcement on Sunday during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki.
He said the decision reflected his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, despite the financial challenges confronting the state due to reduced revenue inflows over the past year.
According to Nwifuru, the bonus is intended to appreciate the dedication and resilience of civil servants and to support them during the Christmas period.
He noted that his government remained focused on prioritising workers’ welfare while pursuing broader development goals.
During the service, the governor also addressed public criticism surrounding the pace of work on the Vincent Agwu Nwankwo Flyover, popularly known as VANCO.
He dismissed claims that the project had stalled, describing the flyover as a landmark infrastructure initiative unmatched by similar projects currently underway in other parts of the country.
Nwifuru explained that the scale and technical demands of the project account for the construction timelines.
He added that once completed, the flyover would significantly improve the city’s outlook and enhance Ebonyi State’s urban profile.
He criticised misinformation from “social media contractors” who, according to him, lack proper understanding of the project’s complexity.
The governor maintained that his administration was determined to position Ebonyi among states with modern and functional infrastructure, even in the face of limited financial resources.
“We are not doing this because we have excess funds.
”We are doing it because we want to leave a lasting legacy and inscribe our achievements in history, ” he said.
He added that the state armed tto be recognised globally for good governance anchored on infrastructural development and improved living standards for its people.
The Christmas bonus comes months after the Ebonyi State Government increased the minimum wage for its civil servants to N90,000 in August, following a V20,000 upward review.
The wage adjustment was implemented with immediate effect and was linked to Governor Nwifuru’s “People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.”
At the national level, President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage bill into law in July 2024, raising the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.
While some states are yet to fully implement the new wage structure, Ebonyi remains among those that have gone beyond the federal benchmark.
The latest announcement is expected to further boost morale among public sector workers in the state as the Christmas celebrations approach.
