Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has paid more than N90 billion in inherited gratuities and related liabilities while recruiting 7,069 personnel into various areas of the state’s public service under Governor Umo Eno.
The Head of Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, disclosed the figures on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a briefing in Uyo as activities for the state’s 2026 Public Service Week got underway.
The disclosure places workers’ welfare, pension and gratuity payments, public-sector recruitment and reforms at the centre of the state government’s latest account of its administration’s activities.
According to reports of the briefing, Peters said the government inherited about N111 billion in gratuity and related obligations owed to retirees and workers from previous administrations and had so far paid more than N90 billion towards clearing the liabilities.
Government says 7,069 workers recruited
Peters also disclosed that Governor Eno had approved the recruitment of 7,069 personnel between 2025 and 2026, with the appointments covering several sectors of the state’s public service.
The recruitment reportedly includes personnel in education, healthcare, the judiciary, legal services, occupational safety and social care, among other areas.
The development comes after an earlier recruitment drive in 2025.
In June 2025, the state government announced plans to recruit 3,000 workers following a verification exercise involving public servants on the state payroll. At the time, the Head of Service said 2,208 individuals who failed to participate in the verification exercise had been removed from the payroll, creating vacancies in the public service.
The latest figure of 7,069 therefore represents recruitment across a broader period and multiple sectors rather than the 3,000 positions announced in 2025.
Appointment letters being issued
The state government has also commenced the issuance of appointment letters to successful candidates from its recent civil service recruitment exercise.
A report published on September 14 said Peters disclosed that appointment letters were being issued to candidates who successfully completed the recruitment process.
The recruitment is part of the administration’s broader effort to address staffing needs within the state’s public institutions.
The government has highlighted education and healthcare among areas benefiting from additional personnel, while the judiciary and other specialised services have also received recruitment approvals.
N90bn payment represents major reduction in inherited liabilities
The gratuity payment is significant because the Eno administration inherited a substantial backlog of obligations owed to workers and retirees.
Available reports put the inherited liabilities at approximately N111 billion, although earlier figures cited by state officials in 2025 referred to an inherited pension and gratuity backlog of about N90 billion.
In June 2025, the then Head of Service, Effiong Essien, said the administration had already cleared N60 billion from the N90 billion backlog identified at that time. He also said the government had approved measures to address outstanding contributory pension obligations.
The latest disclosure indicates that the state government now says more than N90 billion has been paid against the larger inherited obligation.
That difference in figures underscores the importance of distinguishing between different categories of inherited liabilities and the dates on which government officials reported them.
Minimum wage and 13th-month salary
Peters also highlighted the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage for Akwa Ibom public servants and the payment of an additional 13th-month salary, popularly known as “Eno-Mber.”
The state government introduced the additional salary as part of its workers’ welfare measures, with the payment intended to provide additional financial support to public servants during the festive period.
The administration has also pointed to regular salary payments and other measures as part of its approach to improving conditions for public-sector workers.
Other measures cited by the Head of Service include efforts to address outstanding 7.5 per cent contributory pension obligations, pension increases for certain categories of retirees and the provision of housing opportunities for civil servants.
Housing and other workers’ welfare measures
The state government has also linked its workers’ welfare programme to housing and healthcare interventions.
Among the initiatives highlighted are housing opportunities for civil servants, enrolment of workers in the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme and the payment of leave grants.
The government has previously announced the allocation of 150 housing units at Grace Estate to eligible civil servants on lower grade levels.
A report on the September 14 briefing said Peters clarified that the houses were being provided free to eligible beneficiaries, while interested civil servants had been required to pay N50,000 as an Expression of Interest fee to participate in the allocation process.
Public service recruitment follows earlier payroll verification
The latest recruitment also needs to be viewed against the state’s earlier effort to clean up its public payroll.
In 2025, an exercise covering about 55,000 public servants resulted in 2,208 people being removed from the payroll after they failed to appear for verification, according to the state Head of Service at the time.
The exercise was subsequently used by the government to identify vacancies and justify additional recruitment.
The first phase announced in June 2025 involved 3,000 positions divided equally among the mainstream civil service, medical personnel and teaching service.
The 2026 disclosure of 7,069 recruits suggests that recruitment has subsequently expanded beyond that initial 3,000-worker approval.
Why the figures matter
The payment of inherited gratuities and the recruitment of thousands of workers have implications for both the state’s workforce and its public finances.
For retirees, clearing accumulated gratuity obligations can provide access to benefits that may have remained unpaid for years.
For serving workers and institutions, additional recruitment could help address staffing shortages, particularly in essential services such as healthcare, education and justice.
However, expanding the public workforce also creates continuing obligations for the state, including salaries, pensions, allowances and other employment-related costs.
The sustainability of such measures will therefore depend not only on the number of workers recruited or the amount of inherited liabilities cleared, but also on the state’s ability to maintain regular payments and finance its public service over the longer term.
Workers urged to improve productivity
While highlighting the administration’s welfare measures, the Head of Service also called on public servants to respond with greater professionalism and productivity.
Peters urged workers to demonstrate discipline, integrity, professionalism, innovation and dedication to duty, according to reports of her address.
She said improved welfare conditions should translate into better service delivery to residents.
The message reflects the broader objective of linking public-sector welfare with institutional performance rather than treating workers’ benefits as an end in themselves.
2026 Public Service Week activities
The disclosures were made as Akwa Ibom began its 2026 Public Service Week activities.
The programme includes sporting activities, fitness events, a carnival float, medical checks, a symposium, a workers’ quiz competition, football matches and an inter-denominational thanksgiving service.
The celebration is scheduled to culminate in a Gala and Award Night on October 2 in Uyo, where outstanding public servants are expected to be recognised.
The activities are intended to combine professional development and recognition with social and welfare initiatives for workers.
What happens next
The immediate focus will be on completing the issuance of appointment letters to successful candidates in the latest recruitment exercise and integrating the new personnel into their respective institutions.
The state government is also expected to continue its efforts to clear outstanding pension and gratuity obligations while implementing its wider public-service welfare programme.
For retirees and serving workers, the key issue will be whether the reported progress in clearing inherited liabilities can be sustained and whether new recruitment and welfare measures translate into more effective public services.
The latest figures also provide a broader picture of Governor Umo Eno’s approach to the state’s workforce: combining the clearance of inherited obligations with new recruitment, improved remuneration and other welfare interventions.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Akwa Ibom State Government officials, as reported during the 2026 Public Service Week briefing.
- Sitippe Ke Akwa Ibom, reporting the September 14, 2026 briefing and recruitment of 7,069 personnel.
- VVCWatch, reporting the Head of Service’s disclosure on inherited gratuity payments and recruitment.
- Vanguard, reporting the 2025 payroll verification exercise, removal of 2,208 suspected ghost workers and earlier gratuity payments.
- The Sun, reporting the 2025 approval for recruitment of 3,000 workers and the state’s earlier gratuity backlog.
