The Akwa Ibom State Government has paid more than N90 billion out of N111 billion in inherited gratuity liabilities owed to retired public servants.
The Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, disclosed this on Monday in Uyo during a media parley held as part of activities marking the 2026 Public Service Day celebration.
Peters said the payment was one of the major interventions of 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,” she said.
She added that the administration had maintained regular salary payments, implemented the N80,000 minimum wage from November 1, 2024, and sustained the payment of a 13th-month salary popularly known as “Eno-Mber”.
According to her, the 13th-month salary, introduced by Governor Eno in 2023, provides additional financial support to public servants during the festive period.
Peters also disclosed that the administration had approved and recruited approximately 7,069 personnel to address staffing gaps across critical sectors.
She said about 4,000 personnel had been recruited by May 2026, while approval had been given for the recruitment of 1,000 additional primary school teachers. A further 766 personnel had been recruited into the health sector and other critical areas.
She said the recruitment drive was aimed at addressing critical staffing needs, strengthening institutional capacity and improving service delivery across the state.
On workers’ welfare, 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 transparent raffle process.
She further disclosed that the state government had launched the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme for civil servants, with the government fully paying the premiums for junior workers.
Peters said the various interventions reflected the administration’s commitment to translating government policies into tangible improvements in the lives of workers and citizens.
