Fubara’s Administration Defends ₦100,000 ‘Christmas Gift’ to Rivers Workers as a Necessary Buffer Against 2026 Financial Shifts

The Rivers State Government has officially addressed the debate surrounding its recent ₦100,000 Yuletide bonus, describing the payment as a strategic move to protect the purchasing power of the state’s workforce.

Government spokespersons explained that the “unprecedented” ₦100,000 gift to every civil servant was a response to the “unique economic pressures” of the 2025 festive season. The payment, which was completed in the final days of December, has been a major talking point in Port Harcourt and beyond.

“Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the welfare of the people who keep the wheels of this state turning,” the statement noted. “The ₦100,000 Yuletide gift was an interventionist measure. With the recent tax reforms and the national inflation figures, the Governor felt it was imperative that no civil servant in Rivers State should have to choose between a decent Christmas and their family’s survival in January.”

The government was quick to dismiss claims from opposition quarters that the bonus was a “loyalty payment” following the political realignments in the state. Instead, officials pointed to the state’s improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as the source of the funds, asserting that the state’s fiscal health allowed for such a “human-centric” expenditure.

For the average civil servant, the bonus which represents more than double the national minimum wage has provided a vital safety net. “This is the first time we are feeling the direct impact of the state’s wealth in our pockets like this,” said a senior teacher at a government school in Obio-Akpor. “It’s not just about Christmas; it’s about having enough to face the New Year.”

As the 2026 fiscal year begins, the Rivers State Government has signaled that worker welfare will remain a cornerstone of its “New Directions” agenda. The explanation issued today serves to close the chapter on the 2025 bonus controversy as the administration shifts its focus to the 2026 Budget of Consolidation, which is expected to be presented to the State House of Assembly later this month.