Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has approved a Christmas bonus of ₦150,000 for all civil servants in the state for the 2025 festive season.
The governor announced the bonus on Sunday during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki.
According to Nwifuru, the gesture reflects his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers, despite the decline in revenue accruing to the state over the past year.
The governor also dismissed claims that work on the Vincent Agwu Nwankwo Flyover, popularly known as VANCO had stalled, describing the project as a landmark infrastructure initiative of his administration.
“You cannot find any state in Nigeria currently undertaking a flyover of this nature,” he said.
Explaining the technical and structural demands of the project, Nwifuru said the scale of the construction had attracted misconceptions, particularly on social media. He maintained that the project would significantly transform the state’s landscape and enhance its aesthetic appeal upon completion.
He stressed that his administration was determined to position Ebonyi State among states with modern and advanced infrastructure.
“We are doing it not because we have excess funds, but because we want to leave a lasting legacy,” the governor said.
Nwifuru added that Ebonyi State aims to be recognised on the global map for good governance, driven by sustainable development and modern infrastructure.
In August, the governor approved an increase in the state’s minimum wage by ₦20,000, raising the pay of public servants to ₦90,000 with immediate effect.
The Ebonyi State Government said the wage adjustment was in line with Nwifuru’s ‘People’s Charter of Needs’ agenda.
President Bola Tinubu had, in July 2024, signed the minimum wage bill into law after its passage by the National Assembly, increasing the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 and ending months of negotiations among labour unions, the private sector, and government authorities.
However, several states are yet to fully implement the new wage structure.
