June 29, 2025 – UYO, Nigeria – Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has once again pledged his administration’s dedication to improving the welfare of civil servants in the state. This reaffirmation came during a thanksgiving service to mark the 2025 Public Service Week, held at the International Christian Worship Center, Uyo.
Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Emem Bob, the Governor stated that workers remain at the heart of his administration’s ARISE Agenda and described the civil service as “the engine room of government.”
“Since we assumed office, we have paid arrears of pensions and gratuities totaling over N60 billion out of the N98 billion inherited from past administrations dating back to 2012,” the Governor revealed. “We stand poised to liquidate the backlog as more funds become available,” he added.
Governor Eno extended his congratulations to the Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien, and all workers in the Akwa Ibom Civil Service for organizing what he called a “very successful” Public Service Week.
He noted that the 2025 theme, “Leveraging Technology for a Smart and Agile Civil Service,” was timely and aligns with his administration’s push to modernize government processes. “We believe that for our civil service to align with the times for better service delivery, it must leverage technology. So, I am deeply heartened by the choice of the theme,” he said.
Highlighting steps already taken, the Governor disclosed that his administration has invested in technology-driven systems to fight corruption and improve transparency. “We created the first stand-alone Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, and through this, launched portals like the Arise Employment Portal and the Verification Portals,” he said. “These platforms have so far identified and removed over 2,000 ghost workers and 3,000 fraudulent pension recipients.”
He also emphasized the state’s effort to unify all tiers of government salaries under one fiscal structure. “The Ministry has brought the State, Primary School, and Local Government Sectors under a unified salary system. This move has blocked loopholes and ensured that individuals no longer collect salaries from multiple sources,” he noted.
Governor Eno commended Elder Essien for enforcing compliance and driving these reforms effectively. “This has made the system run efficiently and professionally,” he said.
In a bid to further strengthen the civil service, Governor Eno confirmed that 3,000 new workers would be recruited. “I approved the employment of 3,000 new civil servants, and interested applicants should apply via the state’s official employment portal,” he announced.
Recognizing outstanding performance, the Governor also congratulated Barrister Victor Fabian of the Ministry of Justice and Ms. Itoro Ernest Udofia of the Ministry of Trade and Investment. Both received special promotions and cash rewards for their dedication. “I encourage other workers to emulate their passion and commitment,” he said.
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This development aligns with Akwa Ibom’s increasing investment in digital governance, improved staff welfare, and transparent financial management, key pillars under Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda.