Governor Francis Nwifuru on Sunday announced a N150,000 Christmas bonus for all categories of civil servants in Ebonyi.

Mr Nwifuru made the announcement during a Sunday church service at the Government House Chapel, Abakaliki.

The governor explained that the gesture aligned with his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving workers’ welfare.

According to Mr Nwifuru, this is despite the insignificant revenue that had accrued to Ebon in Ebonyi in the past year.

Regarding the forthcoming local government election in the state, he promised a level playing ground for all the aspirants.

Mr Nwifuru explicitly declared that he had “no preferred candidate” and had “anointed no one” for the exercise.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, the will of the people must prevail, the people must choose their representatives without interference from any quarters.”

The governor reiterated his directive that political appointees who wish to contest the local government election resign in line with the extant electoral guidelines.

“It is not my duty to pick you as the Chairman of your local government area. If you are contesting for the chairmanship position in the next year’s council election as an appointee, you must resign as stipulated by the law,” Mr Nwifuru stated.

(NAN)