The announcement was made on Thursday, August 28, 2025, during a briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, underscoring Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration’s commitment to improving the living standards of public sector employees.

The disclosure came from the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe, who emphasized that the N20,000 increment is a direct response to the rising cost of living and aims to enhance workers’ welfare without any political undertones. 

“We want to state categorically that this is not a political statement, as this government does not toy with workers’ welfare,” Omebe told journalists in Abakaliki. 

He further highlighted the administration’s track record, noting that the government has already cleared pensions and gratuities for state retirees dating back to Ebonyi’s creation in 1996. 

Additionally, the verification process for local government area retirees is underway, with payments to follow upon completion.

This wage hike builds on previous efforts by the Nwifuru-led government, which had earlier implemented a N75,000 minimum wage in October 2024 and added N10,000 increments in 2023 and 2024 to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and inflation.