In his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of allocating substantial funds for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements to retired workers in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno, has approved the release of N6,432,924,257.62.
The breakdown of this payment is as follows: N1,000,000,000 for gratuities for retired primary school teachers (SUBEB); N500,000,000 for retired local government workers; N2,220,524,257.62 for gratuities, pension arrears, and an en-bloc payment for state retired civil service workers; N597,400,000 for the 2014 leave grant for local government workers; and N2,115,000,000 for leave grants for State Civil Service workers. This brings the total amount disbursed by Governor Eno in July and August to N6,432,924,257.62.
Overall, Governor Umo Eno has now allocated over twenty-eight billion Naira for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements since he took office a little over a year ago.
Governor Eno has consistently emphasized that, with the robust infrastructure provided by previous administrations—which he aims to maintain and expand under the Arise Agenda—the primary focus should now be on enhancing the well-being of the people, boosting their material conditions, and accelerating development in rural areas.
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His passionate dedication to the welfare of the most vulnerable and the neediest in society has seen him construct, and hand over 36 fully -furnished and fitted 2-bedroom bungalows under the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative to the poorest and the most vulnerable so far, with 164 currently under construction.
His deep commitment to supporting the most vulnerable has led to the construction and handover of 36 fully furnished 2-bedroom bungalows through the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative, with another 164 units currently under construction.
He also plans to deliver 200 units in his second year and 400 by the end of his first term.
Additionally, 150 out of 236 units at the Grace Homes Estate will be allocated to civil servants from grades 1-8, free of charge, via a raffle draw.
The Arise Elderly Care Initiative provides N50,000 monthly to 600 elders across the state’s 368 wards. Bursaries are being awarded to students in public tertiary institutions, grants are available for students with disabilities, and WAEC fees for all students are covered, contributing to a significant increase in the state’s pass rate.
Governor Eno is also actively addressing food security by distributing staple items to the most vulnerable through the Bulk Purchase Agency and is appreciative of the palliatives provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Apart from the above humanitarian interventions, Governor Eno is also undertaking audacious capital projects such as the completion of road infrastructure inherited from previous administrations and the ongoing construction of numerous other road projects he has initiated throughout the state, the flood control tunnel on Atiku Abubakar Way which he started and was commissioned last May, the audacious Arise Park which is a miracle to behold given the fact that the location was previously a desolate and erosion- ravaged ravine, the plan to acquire two brand new CRJ-900 series Bombardier jets to expand the fleet and routes for Ibom Air, to be purchased outright; these add to the planned 19- Storey Ibom Towers in Lagos and the 3- Star Ibom Hotel in Abuja among others.
Governor Eno is leveraging state resources to positively impact lives, demonstrated by his consistent payment of gratuities and expansion of infrastructure. Akwa Ibom is indeed rising and thriving.