A’Ibom pays N90bn gratuities, recruits 7,069 workers - Punch Newspapers
File: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has paid over N90bn out of the N111bn inherited gratuity liabilities owed to retired public servants. The Head of Civil Service, Elsie Peters, disclosed this on Monday in Uyo during a media parley to mark the commencement of the 2026 Public Service Day celebration. She said the payment was one of the key interventions of Governor Umo Eno’s administration aimed at improving workers’ welfare and strengthening the public service. “One of the most significant interventions has been the payment of over N90bn out of inherited gratuity liabilities of more than N111bn owed to retired public servants, with a firm commitment to progressively liquidate the outstanding balance,” Peters said. According to her, the administration had also maintained regular payment of salaries, implemented the N80,000 minimum wage with effect from November 1, 2024, and sustained the 13th-month salary, popularly known as “Eno-Mber”. “In 2023, Governor Umo Eno introduced the 13th-month salary, popularly known as ‘Eno-Mber’, as an additional financial benefit for public servants. This initiative is a sustained and notable welfare intervention, providing additional financial support during the festive period. “The N80,000 minimum wage was implemented with effect from November 1, 2024, following the necessary verification exercise, to improve workers’ purchasing power and cushion rising living costs,” Peters said. Delta workers to get 13th-month salary as Assembly passes bill 2027: Police warn against electoral violence in A’Ibom Delta Assembly passes 13th-month salary bill for public servants She added that the Eno-led administration had approved and recruited approximately 7,069 personnel, including 4,000 general workers by May 2026, 1,000 primary school teachers, and 766 health workers and other critical staff. She said the intervention addressed critical staffing needs, strengthened institutional capacity and supported improved service delivery across the state public service. “Approximately 4,000 personnel had been recruited by May 2026, with approval for 1,000 additional primary school teachers, while 766 personnel were recruited into the health sector and other critical areas, bringing the total recruited or approved to approximately 7,069 personnel,” she stated. On welfare, Peters said 150 completed two-bedroom expandable houses under the Grace Estate initiative were allocated free of charge to civil servants on Grade Levels 01–08 through a transparent raffle process. She further said the Eno administration had launched the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme for civil servants, with premiums fully paid by the government for junior workers. Peters stressed that the governor was working to translate government policies into tangible results for citizens. Emem Julius
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