The Head of Service in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Elsie Peters, has commended Governor Umo Eno for prioritising workers’ welfare, professional growth and development through a series of labour-friendly policies and programmes.
Peters spoke during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service marking the 2026 Public Service Week in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
She highlighted several initiatives implemented by the state government, including the prompt payment of salaries, the ₦80,000 minimum wage, continued payment of the 13th-month basic salary known as EnoEmber, and the settlement of more than ₦98 billion in outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers.
“I sincerely appreciate His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, for his commitment to the welfare and development of workers, as demonstrated by the prompt payment of monthly salaries, payment of the ₦80,000 minimum wage, the continued payment of the 13th-month basic salary, known as EnoEmber, and the payment of over ₦98 billion in outstanding gratuities to our retired colleagues,” Peters said.
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She noted that other interventions included housing support, a health insurance scheme for workers, human capital development programmes, promotion approvals, and the recruitment of thousands of Akwa Ibom indigenes into the civil service.
The Head of Service disclosed that nearly 9,000 workers had been recruited since the current administration assumed office, with the latest batch of 4,000 successful candidates expected to resume work on October 2, 2026.
Representing Governor Eno at the event, the Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor, Mr Aniefiok Udo Johnson, praised Peters for her efforts in building an agile, focused and modern civil service capable of driving the administration’s ARISE Agend
Johnson disclosed that the state government was making steady progress in clearing inherited gratuity liabilities dating back to 2012.
“We are also on track to clear the backlog of gratuities we inherited, dating back to 2012, having already paid over ₦98 billion out of the ₦111 billion inherited,” he stated.
He conveyed Governor Eno’s assurance that the administration would continue to prioritise the welfare and professional development of public servants.
“We will continue to prioritise the welfare of our public servants because they have played a critical role in the success of our administration,” the governor stated.
Also speaking, the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Udo Kieran Akpan, commended the administration for recognising the contributions of workers to the development of the state.
“I am satisfied that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has made it a point of duty to celebrate the working population,” Akpan said.
The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission, Mrs Ekereobong Umoh, attributed the strong turnout of workers at the event to the governor’s welfare initiatives and commitment to civil service reforms.
“This mammoth crowd of workers you are seeing here is a testament to your good works. Promotions are up to date, and the promotion exercise for 2027 will be conducted by the end of this year,” Umoh noted.
Delivering a sermon titled “Gratitude,” Reverend Samuel Ebukiba described gratitude as a commendable virtue that should be embraced in public service.
The 2026 Public Service Week, themed “Repositioning the Public Service for a Productive 21st Century: Driving Service Excellence Under the ARISE Agenda,” runs from September 26 to October 2.
