Celebrate Araise: Akwa Ibom's N80,000 Wage Boost

 

Pastor Umo Eno, the State Governor, made the announcement while speaking at the 2025 Thanksgiving Service of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

The governor praised the Akwa Ibom NUJ for working with his administration as partners in advancing his administration's ARISE Agenda while preserving professionalism and patriotism in their reporting.

He advised individuals who were demarketing the state to refrain from doing so in order to foster better partnership for the state's development.

He praised the dignified leadership offered by the current State Council Chairman of the Union in the State, Comrade Amos Etuk, and pledged that the state government will keep its promise to complete the Union Secretariat during his term as chairman.

Etuk also announced the donation of an SUV as an official vehicle to the chairman, as well as a saloon car to each of the Union's eleven State Working Committee members.

"About my workers' issues, we knew we would pay them N80,000 as promised, but we merely claimed we needed to verify. I've been told that the report has been submitted and will be delivered to me tomorrow by the Head of Service.

"Once that report is submitted, for those who were validated, we will pay beginning November 1st, this January. It does not require a letter from anybody. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking they are the ones who will persuade me to do what you want. I will not pay you unless you have been verified into the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, regardless of any threats of strike action. For those that have been authenticated, I will pay you beginning November 1st. That has been our commitment, and I will not back down on what I have said," the governor stated.

Recalling his administration's efforts to clear the N97 billion backlog of gratuities and other arrears of entitlements owed to workers in the state, as well as other expressions of goodwill towards civil servants in the state, Governor Eno reassured of his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of the Akwa Ibom workforce, in keeping with his promise to reciprocate their support for his election as governor.

In his words, "Akwa Ibom workers, we are on track." We made a bargain with you because you helped us. We will collaborate with you to guarantee that your well-being is prioritized and remains so, because we realize you are our backbone. Never let anyone deceive you.

"I have yet to see a State Government in Nigeria that treats workers the way I have, and I stand to be challenged," Governor Eno stated, criticizing it as misleading and the pursuit of unnecessary self-aggrandizement, as well as the State's labor leaders' constant threats of industrial action.

In his thanksgiving speech at the event, Comrade Amos Etuk, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUJ, expressed the gratitude of members and leadership of the Union under his watch to God for the special grace to maintain the fourth estate of the realm in the face of mounting challenges, as well as thanking Governor Umo for making the work for journalists easier through his media-friendly disposition.

Comrade Amos Etuk stated that hosting the 2025 Thanksgiving Service in Ikot Ekpene Udo was the Union's way of honoring the governor, and that journalists in the state will continue to work collaboratively with the Umo Eno-led administration to promote the ARISE Agenda's goals.