By Ayodele Oni
Public servants in Ebonyi State are looking forward to a bountiful yuletide as the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, approved payment of ₦150,000 Christmas bonus to all civil servants in the state ahead of the festive season.
The Governor announced the incentive on Sunday during a Church Service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki, describing it as part of his administration’s deliberate efforts to prioritise workers’ welfare, despite a decline in revenue accruing to the state over the past years.
Nwifuru also dismissed claims suggesting a slowdown in the construction of the Vincent Agwu Nwankwo Flyover, widely known as VANCO, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of his administration.
He stressed that the scale and complexity of the project set it apart from similar developments across the country.
“There is hardly any state in Nigeria currently undertaking a flyover of this magnitude,” the governor said.
He explained that the demanding engineering processes involved in the project account for its pace, noting that once completed, the flyover would significantly transform the city’s outlook and enhance its visual appeal.
Nwifuru criticised what he described as misleading narratives by “social media contractors,” insisting that such commentaries fail to appreciate the technical depth of the work.
According to him, the administration remains focused on positioning Ebonyi State as a modern and progressive society, driven by durable and forward-looking infrastructure.
“We are not doing this because we have excess funds. We are doing it because we want to leave a lasting legacy and etch our name in history,” he said.
The Governor added that his vision is for Ebonyi State to gain recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a model of good governance anchored on sustainable development.
In August, Nwifuru approved a ₦20,000 increase in the State’s minimum wage, raising the salary of public servants to ₦90,000 with immediate effect.
The Ebonyi State Government said the adjustment was inspired by the Governor’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda, which places strong emphasis on improving the living conditions of workers.
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