The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Nwifuru, has approved an increase in workers’ salaries as part of measures to cushion the harsh realities of the Federal Government’s elimination of fuel subsidies.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mr Jude Okpor, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing in Abakaliki.
He stated that the decision was made as part of the State Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by the Governor on Thursday.
He announced that the Exco approval an immediate addition of N10,000 to every worker’s salary in the state.
According to him “the issue of workers’ salaries was raised and deliberated on by Exco. The Executive Council led by His Excellency the Chairman of Council approved that N10,000 be added to every worker’s salary in the state to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. His Excellency also mandated SSG, Professor Grace Umezuruike to look into the finances of the state University (EBSU) to know what comes out and goes into the University to help determine the upwards review of subvention to the University. Council also approved the employment of 1454 Ebonyians into the state civil service to fill in vacancies created in the services over the years”
He added that the Executive Council further deliberated on the issue of water scarcity in the state, noting that the Governor emphasised the need to ensure urgent provision of water to residents of the state.
“Water problems in the state came up for deliberation. After the deliberation, a matching order was given to the Commissioner for Water Resources in the state by His Excellency the Governor to get water running in all the streets of Abakaliki before the next EXCO meeting, His Excellency was made to understand the hardship people in the state capital are facing over the problem of water and resolved that it must come to an end”