Akwa Ibom Approves Recruitment Of 7,069 Workers

The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the recruitment of 7,069 job-seekers into the state workforce as part of measures to address youth unemployment.

LEADERSHIP learnt on Tuesday that successful applicants had been issued appointment letters.

The administration has also concluded plans to allocate 150 housing units at Grace Estate to low-level civil servants, with interested workers required to pay N50,000 as an Expression of Interest fee.

The State Head of Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, disclosed this at Government House, Uyo, during activities marking the Civil Service Week.

Peters said the measures demonstrated Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

She clarified that the houses at Grace Estate would be provided free to eligible beneficiaries, explaining that the N50,000 payment was only for the Expression of Interest form.

“What happened rather was that those who were interested were asked to purchase an ‘Expression of Interest’ form, for the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira. No amount of money was demanded as requirement for them to get the house,” she said.

The state had previously announced the allocation of 150 housing units at Grace Estate to civil servants on Grade Levels 1–8 through a selection process.

Peters also listed the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage for public servants and payment of the 13th-month salary, popularly known as “Eno-Mber,” among the administration’s welfare measures.

On pension and gratuity payments, government records showed that the administration inherited a backlog of N111 billion in gratuities and other emoluments owed to retirees from 2012.

By April 2026, Governor Eno had reported that more than N82 billion had been paid towards the inherited obligations.

The Head of Service also cited the implementation of outstanding 7.5 per cent contributory pension obligations among the measures taken to improve workers’ welfare.

The state government had earlier approved the refund of outstanding 7.5 per cent contributory pension contributions.