Akwa Ibom approves N6.4bn for retired workers’ gratuities

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the release of N6.43 billion for the payment of gratuities and entitlements to retired workers in the state.

This move, the governor stated recently, is in line with his commitment to improving the welfare of pensioners and civil servants, fulfilling his promise to regularly allocate funds for their benefits.

The breakdown of the payments includes N1 billion for the gratuities of retired primary school teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), N500 million for retired local government workers, N2.22 billion for gratuities, pension arrears, and enbloc payments to state civil service retirees, N597.4 million for 2014 leave grants for local government workers, and N2.115 billion for leave grants to state civil service employees.

Governor Eno’s administration has now disbursed over N28 billion for gratuities and other entitlements since he assumed office more than a year ago.

In addition to these financial commitments, the governor has undertaken several welfare initiatives under his “Arise Agenda.” Among them is the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative, which has delivered 36 fully-furnished bungalows to vulnerable citizens, with 164 more units currently under construction. Governor Eno aims to hand over 200 units by the end of his second year in office and 400 by the end of his first term.

Furthermore, 150 out of 236 units at the Grace Homes Estate are set to be allocated to civil servants at levels 1-8, free of charge, through a raffle draw..

The Arise Elderly Care Initiative also provides monthly stipends of N50,000 to 600 elderly residents across the state’s 368 wards, while bursaries are being paid to students in public tertiary institutions, along with grants for students with disabilities. The state continues to cover WAEC fees for all students in public schools, resulting in a significant increase in pass rates.

Through the Bulk Purchase Agency, staple food items are being distributed to the state’s most vulnerable citizens. Governor Eno also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for providing palliatives to Akwa Ibom residents.

On the infrastructure front, the governor is making significant strides in completing projects inherited from previous administrations, as well as initiating new ones. These include road construction projects across the state, the completion of the Atiku Abubakar Way flood control tunnel, and the transformation of the erosion-prone Arise Park.

The state government also plans to expand the fleet of Ibom Air by acquiring two CRJ-900 series Bombardier jets, along with the construction of a 19-story Ibom Towers in Lagos and a 3-star Ibom Hotel in Abuja.