Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has announced the sum of N10,000 each as lunch allowance to workers on the state’s payroll for the 2025 Workers Day celebration.
Nwifuru also reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of civil workers in the state.
He made this known during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the state capital on Thursday.
Addressing a jubilant crowd of workers, Governor Nwifuru stated that the dignity of labour remains a core pillar of his administration.
He emphasized the importance of rewarding productivity, innovation, and professionalism within the state’s workforce, and assured that the government would continue to prioritize policies that uplift the working conditions of employees across all sectors.
The governor acknowledged that in view of the current harsh economic realities, that his administration remained resolute in ensuring the prompt payment of salaries, the clearing of pensions and gratuities from 1996 to date, and the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
He also announced the introduction of a streamlined retirement system designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks hitherto faced by the civil servants during their retirement period.
The Governor also pledged closer collaboration with labour unions and various stakeholders to ensure continued access to more dividends of democracy by Ebonyi workers.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State Chapter, Prof. Ogugua Egwu, acknowledged the invaluable contributions of workers to national development.
He, however, lamented the poor standard of living of average workers in Nigeria.
Egwu, who decried that though the workers are yet to occupy their pride of place in the country, however, appreciated Governor Nwifuru for always having the interest of the workers at heart.
He appealed to the governor to do upward review of the pensions of the senior citizens who have served and retired meritoriously to reflect the 2024 new national minimum wage.
Prof. Egwu also called for increased attention to provision of shelter for the workers, expanded transportation services, payment of bulk leave allowances, and intervention for prompt payments of salaries to local government staff, especially the teachers, in accordance with the new minimum wage.
He appreciated the Governor for including the cost implications of the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage in the 2025 budget, and passionately appealed for more support for grassroots workers.
The high point of the event was the public recognition and reward of three identified committed workers in the state, a gesture that added excitement to the celebration.
