By CHARLES IWUOHA

Civil servants in Ebonyi State under the payroll of the state government will smile home with the sum of N150,000 each as 2024 Christmas bonus.

Governor Francis Nwifuru announced this at a State banquet organised in honour of the visiting British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, at the Government House Abakaliki.

The Governor said the’gesture is in appreciation of workers commitment to duty and their understanding during the strike.

This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki.

“Our Workers have shown a lot of commitments and respect to us as a government. During the strike action they heeded our appeal because they understood the situation of things and we were most grateful and ready to always dialogue on how to improve their welfare.”

The Governor directed that every worker should receive the bonus before close of work on Tuesday next week.

The Governor had earlier received the British Deputy High Commissioner in his office at Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, where he solicited the assistance of the British Government in the areas of Water, Health, Power and Education, as well as Agriculture.

“We are committed to industrialise the state, with progress in Ebonyi Pipe Production Company, Ebonyi State Fertilizers and Chemicals Company, Industrial Clusters, and Ebonyi State Hatchery, Nkaliki. We cultivate rice in large quantities and seek your collaboration to enhance production for exportation.

“Water and sanitation is another area we have made significant progress in our quest to increase provision and access to quality water supply in the rural and urban areas. We have revived the Oferekpe water scheme with the capacity to produce 100 million cubic litres of water on a daily basis,” Nwifuru said.

He commended the UK Foreign Office and other development partners for their active support and commitment to Nigeria’s development.

The Deputy High Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the development going on in the state and pledged to assist considering the long standing ties between the UK and Nigeria.