Ebonyi Assembly approves Xmas bonus for workers

…Junior gets 100%, 50% for senior

THE Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved 100% salary bonus for junior workers in the state while those in the senior category got 50% to ameliorate the suffering of the citizens during the yuletide period.
The Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, in a letter to the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru, requested the House to give approval for 100 % salary bonus for junior workers, 50% for senior workers and welfare packages for some members of the public.
Moving a motion for the approval of the governor’s request, the majority leader, and member representing, Ezza North East, Hon Joseph Nwobashi, regretted the economic hardship workers in the state are facing saying that the salary bonus would go a long way in alleviating the hardship.
He commended the State Governor for such gesture and called on other members of the House to support the approval of the request as it would not just torch the lives of civil servants but other citizens of the state in extension.
In her contribution, the Minority Leader and member representing, Afikpo North East, Hon Maria Ude Nwachi, who expressed dismay over the level of poverty and hardship in the state noted that daily, she receive text messages from members of her constituency who could not eat 3 square meal and pointed out that the welfare package should be channelled to people that actually desire it and not political aids and appointees.
She commended the State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi whom she described as God sent and advised that the welfare package must be monitored to avoid being diverted by some persons.
Seconding the motion, the Chief Whip of the House and member Representing Ikwo South Constituency, Hon Chike Ogiji said that the welfare package would reduce criminal activities and other social vices as people would benefit monetarily from the state to enable them fend for their families.
He thanked the Governor for having the interest of workers and other citizens at heart.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru after listening to the submissions of members put the motion to vote and it was anonymous adopted.
The Speaker ordered the Clerk to make a memo informing the governor of the approval of his request.
The lawmakers also observed one minute silence in the honour of a former Minister of Education, Dr Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, who died in an Israeli hospital while receiving medical treatment and the 13 others who died in an auto crash on Tuesday along Abakaliki-Afikpo road.