By Nelson Utip
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has dolled out a whooping N1.4 billion as bonuses, he announced this during a thanksgiving service marking the end of the 2024 Public Service Week at the International Worship Centre (IWC) in Uyo on Sunday.
The governor expressed his appreciation for the harmonious working relationship with his administration, noting the immense support and cooperation of the workforce which has enhanced the effective implementation of his administration’s blueprint, the ‘ARISE Agenda’.
He specifically commended the integrity, prudence, and bridge-building disposition of Elder Effiong Essien, The Head of Service, describing him as an honorable public servant.
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Eno instructed The Accountant-General to ensure the release and payment of cash as a bonus to each of the 52,000 civil servants across the various tiers of the state government in the first week of July to commemorate the celebration, while restating his call for all hands to be on deck to make Akwa Ibom self-sufficient in food production.
The Governor expressed his satisfaction on visiting the model farm at Nsit Ibom local government area, commending the Hon Otong Aaron-led transition committee and called on other Local Government Transition Committee Chairpersons to emulate him.
Eno also charged the HoS to put checks in place to checkmate the abuse of the monthly farm days his administration declared for workers to engage in farming, as he stressed that “if 52,000 workers utilise the work-free days to farm, Akwa Ibom will be better off in terms of food sufficiency.”
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As a commitment to human capacity development in the service, the governor said he will soon visit the Civil Service Training Centre (CSTC) to upgrade its facilities to serve his administration’s strong and virile workforce agenda adding that arrangements for a partnership between IBOM Led and Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) at Badagry, Lagos is underway to train the state senior civil servants on modern work tools for greater efficiency.
Elder Effiong Essien,The HoS acknowledged the governor’s achievements in his first year in office, noting that “The first year of Pastor Umo Eno’s tenure has been exceptionally favourable to Akwa Ibom workers, both serving and retired.” Essien expressed happiness that in spite of the tough economic realities, God has helped the civil servants to stay afloat, assuring that the workers will not relent in supporting the governor to succeed.
