The Governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared that state employees will receive double salary payments in December.
The governor made this announcement on Sunday during a church service at the Eternity Mission International Church in Uyo.
He said it was to allay the concerns of the workforce, and serve as a temporary relief prior to the rollout of the new minimum wage.
According to Eno, the introduction of the 13th month salary, referred to as ‘Eno-Mber,’ is intended to enhance the festive season for civil servants, particularly in light of the delays surrounding the implementation of the new N80,000 minimum wage.
Reports from Vanguard reveal that the submission of the report from the harmonization committee, led by the Head of the Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, may not meet the one-month deadline set by the State government. The complete task is now projected for the first quarter of 2025.
“I am aware that quite a number of our civil servants have relocated within Nigeria while others have gone abroad. We have to be sure that those receiving payments are real civil servants. My watchword since assuming office has been transparency and honesty in service deliverables and we have to ensure that we carry this through this verification exercise, which would soon be completed,” he noted.
The Akwa Ibom governor also warned those constantly working to disrupt the smooth relationship between the state government and the organized labour to have a rethink.
“Since we came in, we have paid critical attention to the needs and the welfare of civil servants in this state. To date, we have paid N35 billion in gratuities to retired state, local government workers and primary school teachers in the state,” he recalled.
Other interventions which the Governor said should encourage the workers to imbibe good work ethics included the institution and payment of a bonus regime of N1.1billion naira to all public servants, prompt payment of salary, pension and gratuities.
The governor had previously also released funds, and ensured prompt payment of wage award to the State workers for three months to cushion the effect of high cost of living as well as free 150 homes at the Grace Estate for civil servants of grade levels one to eight.
