A’Ibom Gov’t Approves N2.5bn To Clear Suspended Pension Scheme

The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved and released N2.5bn to clear a backlog of 7.5 per cent contributory pension scheme suspended in 2013.

This was disclosed to the press, by the State’s Head of Civil Service (HOCS), Elder Effiong Essien during a Media Parley to roll out activities marking the 2025 Public Service Week Celebration in the State.

The HOCS also announced the approval of recruitment of 3000 workers in the state by the state government. Out of the said 3000 workers to be employed, the mainstream Civil Service, Healthcare and Teaching Sectors are assigned 1000 slots each.

The recruitment according to the Head of Civil Service comes on the heels of the recently concluded verification exercise for public servants in Akwa Ibom State that was ordered by Governor Umo Eno last year.

Essien disclosed that the verification exercise which was opened to the 55,000 (fifty-five thousand public servants) on the payroll, upon completion ended up with less than 53,000 workers reporting for the exercise, thereby leading to the weeding out of 2,208 from the system for failing to turn up for the exercise, “creating avenue for vacancies in the public sector in Akwa Ibom State”.

“I want to also gladly report that arising from that verification exercise, on the heels of this Public Service Week Celebration, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno has approved the recruitment of 3000 workers into the public service of Akwa Ibom – One thousand workers to the main service of Akwa Ibom State, One thousand for medical personnel and then one thousand to the teaching service.

“Also, within this period of the 2025 Public Service Week Celebration, His Excellency has approved the release of 2025 promotion to public servants in the State. He has also approved and released N2.5bn for clearing of the backlog of 7.5% contributory pension scheme that was suspended in 2013, Elder Effiong Essien disclosed.

While commending Pastor Umo Eno, whom he described as a workers-friendly Governor, thanked him for always prioritizing the welfare of workers, listing the N80,000 new minimum, prompt payment of salaries, donation of 150units of two-bedroom flats at Grace Estate to Civil Servant in the lower cadre as well as donating brand new SUVs to Permanent Secretaries in the State as clear evidence of his love for workers in the state.

He also particularly praised the Governor’s effort in substantially clearing the backlog of pension and gratuity which he met at N90billion, saying so far, his administration has reduced the debt to about N30billion.

Highlighting more on the activities earmarked for the 2025 Public Service Week which has as its theme “Leveraging Technology for a Smart and Agile Public Service”, Elder Essien disclosed that the event will officially kick-start this Wednesday with a public lecture scheduled to be held at the Civil Service Auditorium by 11:00am with the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong as the lecturer.

He said a Novelty Football Match between the Mainstream Civil Service and Local Government Service Staff is billed for Friday at 4:00pm while Roadwalk is billed for Saturday at 7:00a.m, with the take-off point being Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Field.

A’Ibom Gov’t Approves N2.5bn To Clear Suspended Pension Scheme is first published on The Whistler Newspaper