Governor Eno Faults Aides Over ‘Stipend’ Tag On N1m Monthly Pay

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has expressed anger at selfish aides who deceive their constituents into thinking that what they receive monthly from the government is just a stipend.

LEADERSHIP gathered that most of them were flaunting what they called “a paltry N250,000 and N300,000,” as their monthly salaries to deceive their constituents.

But the governor, who frowned at the deceitful antics of his multiple aides, had warned against such displays of ingratitude at different fora and warned those not comfortable with the system to look for alternative avenues for employment.

Drawing an analogy from a cantankerous woman who keeps harping on her marriage not being comfortable with her but refuses to leave, the governor was forced to disclose the pay packages of his aides and ask their constituents to hold them to account.

At the Ikono/Ini federal constituency town square meeting, the governor stressed the need for complementary efforts by government officials towards a holistic fight against poverty. He revealed that contrary to the lies peddled by his aides to escape responsibilities, none of the appointees—personal assistants (PAs), special assistants (SAs), senior special assistants (SSAs), and commissioners—earned less than N1 million monthly.

Therefore, he directed the secretary to the state government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, to ensure the names, LGAs of the aides, and salaries were compiled for newspaper publications so the public could take note.

He said: “Hear me well, no PA earns less than a million naira. And when they want to talk, they would say it is a stipend. You call N1 million a stipend?

It is not a stipend to me. It is serious money.

“So I’ve asked the SSG to compile names of all political appointees according to their local government areas, and we are going to publish them in the newspapers.

“Call your PAs, call your SAs, SSAs, call your Commissioners, ask them, what have you done?”.

However, some of the aides who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, frowned at the governor’s open disclosure of their take home pay, noting that “we have been exposed to the danger of attack, robbery and kidnapping.”

“This singular action by our boss has exposed us to grave danger. Our phones have been jammed by calls since the announcement and we can no longer go home, see the people and feel safe.

“People will be waiting for the end of every month to call and request for money, citing all manner of lies ranging from children school fees, wife in hospital for childbirth, or sickness and all the monies would go without us taking care of our personal projects.

“They don’t even know that our political godfathers who recommended us for these appointments also get tips; we also take care of them and occasionally visit their families with gifts,” one of the senior aides lamented.