… urges workers to be at their best, commends President Tinubu for funding to states
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has explained that the recruitment of 4000 new public servants was based on identified gaps in the public service.
Governor Eno gave the explanation, Tuesday November 3, 2026, at the orientation exercise for the newly recruited public servants held at the Ibom Tropicana Event Center, Uyo.
He noted that on assumption of office, the State conducted a staff verification exercise which identified over 2000 ghost workers and several other retired workers, adding that having blocked the leakages, there was need to recruit and fill the vacant positions and to strengthen the public service.
“There was a huge vacancy gap in the Service, so we are not recruiting to bloat the service but to strengthen and make the public service more efficient for excellent work output.
“Governance is serious business, and to be undertaken by serious-minded people. So, the recruitment was done out of utmost exigency and available vacancies to strengthen the system to function effectively they are fit for purpose,” he said.
He said the State under his leadership remains committed to prompt payment of salaries and gratuities, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making funds available to States to enhance projects execution and payment of salaries and other emoluments.
He charged the newly employed to be at their best, proficient in digitalization and conduct themselves properly in their service to the public and the state.
The Governor urged the employees to deploy innovation and respectfully interact with their superiors to promote excellent government services and transform the State public service.
“As our children, the reason we sent you to school was for you to come back with new and better ideas to transform the way we do things in the system. We expect this crop of civil servants to be the brightest and the best that we have ever had.
“We expect you to be committed to your work; be passionate; be transparent in the execution of your responsibilities,’ he said.
Speaking further, he said “We are in the process of full digitalization of our services. So, we expect you to do everything to be digitally compliant, to enable your work move faster so that we can together serve our people better.
“Do well to keep this job; do well to do the job you asked for; and do well to excel for the best of our State and yourselves,” he added.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Mrs. Elsie Peters, acknowledged the visionary leadership of the Governor that has turned around the Service for the better.
Mrs. Peters assured of the calibre and quality workforce recruited into the system, thanking the Governor for the remarkable orientation and training given to the new employed, which she said will greatly revitalize the Service for greater achievements.
Presenting a special message of appreciation and a gift to the Governor, on behalf of the 4,000 new workers, Miss Etoroabasi Enobong described Governor Eno as a father and leader of inestimable value.
With the Governor at the event were the Chief of Staff, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson; members of the State Executive Council; political stalwarts; Government functionaries, and others.
