The Akwa Ibom State Government has paid more than N90bn out of the N111bn gratuity liabilities inherited from previous administrations, the state Head of Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, has said.
The Punch reported that Peters disclosed this on Monday in Uyo during a media parley organised as part of activities marking the commencement of the 2026 Public Service Day celebration.
She said the payment was among the measures introduced by Governor Umo Eno’s administration to improve workers’ welfare and strengthen the state’s public service.
“One of the most significant interventions has been the payment of over N90 billion out of inherited gratuity liabilities of more than N111 billion, owed to retired public servants, with a firm commitment to progressively liquidate the outstanding balance.”
The Head of Service also said the state had maintained regular salary payments, while implementing the N80,000 minimum wage from November 1, 2024. She added that the administration had continued the payment of 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.
Peters further disclosed that the administration had approved and recruited about 7,069 workers across various sectors, including 4,000 general workers, 1,000 primary school teachers and 766 health workers and other critical personnel.
“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.
She said the recruitment was aimed at addressing manpower shortages, improving the capacity of government institutions and enhancing service delivery across the state.
On housing, Peters said 150 completed two-bedroom expandable houses under the Grace Estate initiative had been allocated free of charge to civil servants on Grade Levels 01–08 through a raffle process.
She added that the state government had also introduced the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme for civil servants, with the government fully paying the premiums for junior workers.
