Ebonyi State Boosts Minimum Wage To N90,000 For Civil Servants.
The Ebonyi State Government has announced an increase in the minimum wage for civil servants, raising it from N70,000 to N90,000 with immediate effect. The decision, approved by Governor Francis Nwifuru, was revealed on Thursday, 28 August 2025, by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe, during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held in Abakaliki.
Omebe emphasised that the N20,000 increment reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing workers’ welfare amid rising living costs. “This is not a political statement, as this government does not toy with workers’ welfare,” he stated, noting that the new wage applies to all categories of public sector employees. The move builds on previous efforts by the Nwifuru administration, which had raised the minimum wage to N75,000 in 2024 following the federal government’s new national minimum wage law.
In addition to the wage hike, the government has cleared pension and gratuity arrears for state retirees dating back to Ebonyi’s creation in 1996. Omebe disclosed that a verification process for retirees in Local Government Areas is underway, with payments to follow upon completion. The EXCO also approved the implementation of an eight-year tenure policy for directors, mandating the immediate retirement of those who have served in the same cadre for the specified period, aiming to bring fresh perspectives to the state’s administration.
The announcement has been met with widespread approval from workers, with many expressing relief at the financial boost. The state government also outlined other initiatives, including the establishment of the Ebonyi State Virology Research and Innovation Centre and the inclusion of the creative industry in empowerment programmes through film loans and equipment grants. These efforts align with Nwifuru’s “People’s Charter of Needs” agenda, which prioritises addressing the needs of Ebonyi’s residents.
The wage increase follows a similar move by neighbouring Imo State, where Governor Hope Uzodimma raised the minimum wage to N104,000, prompting calls from the Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos for a N150,000 minimum wage to reflect the state’s higher living costs. As Ebonyi implements this new wage structure, the state aims to improve the standard of living for its workforce and set a precedent for other states in Nigeria’s South-East region.