Nwifuru Reaffirms Commitment To Workers’ Welfare In Ebonyi On May Day
As workers across Nigeria marked this year’s International Workers' Day, the Ebonyi State Government has reiterated its commitment to improving worker welfare through a series of reforms and policy interventions.
The administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru said its approach to governance is increasingly focused on people-centered policies aimed at restoring dignity, enhancing productivity, and strengthening the civil service.
A key highlight of the government’s efforts is the clearance of long-standing gratuity arrears dating back to 1996. The administration also noted a shift in policy to ensure that retirees receive their gratuities promptly upon exit from service, addressing a challenge that had persisted for decades.
In addition to post-service benefits, the state has introduced free transportation for civil servants through the deployment of 100-seater compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. The initiative is designed to ease commuting challenges and reduce the financial burden of transportation on workers.
The government also emphasized its continued tradition of rewarding workers during festive periods. Civil servants received ₦100,000 as a Christmas bonus in 2023, followed by ₦150,000 in both 2024 and 2025, a move officials say has supported household incomes and stimulated local economic activity.
On employment and workforce expansion, the administration disclosed that over 1,700 Ebonyians have been recruited into the civil service, alongside nearly 2,000 teachers engaged to strengthen the education sector. At Ebonyi State University, salary adjustments of 20 percent for academic staff and 10 percent for non-academic staff were implemented to boost morale and improve service delivery.
Healthcare has also featured prominently in the state’s welfare strategy. Through the State Health Insurance Scheme, more than 8,000 civil servants and up to four of their biological children each now have access to free healthcare services, a policy aimed at reducing the financial burden of medical care while improving workforce productivity.
To further cushion the effects of economic pressures, the government approved a ₦20,000 salary increase for workers, effective from September 2025. Officials described the increment as a responsive measure to rising living costs.
The administration maintained that these initiatives form part of a broader governance philosophy anchored on empathy, efficiency, and sustainability. It added that prompt promotions, regular salary payments, and comprehensive welfare packages remain central to its reform agenda.
As Ebonyi joined the rest of the world in commemorating Workers’ Day, the government reaffirmed that sustained investment in the welfare of workers is critical to long-term development and institutional stability.
