Eno pays another N6.43b for workers gratuity in A/ Ibom
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state governor Pastor Umo Eno has approved fresh payment of N6.43b to settle workers gratuities and other entitlements in the state.
Our Correspondent gathered that the new approval came after two months of same expenditure for retired civil servants in the state .
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary Ekerete Udoh and made available to Journalists in Uyo on Wednesday stated that governor Umo Eno approved the funds to fulfill his campaign promise to regularly set aside substantial amount of funds for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements for retired workers in the state.
The statement reads in parts:
“Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has again, approved the release of the sum of N6,432,924,257. 62 for the above purpose.”
Udoh explained that the breakdown of the figures stated that N1,000,000,000 is dedicated to gratuities for retired primary school teachers (SUBEB), N500, 000, 000 for the payment of gratuities of retired local government workers, N2,220,524,257.62 for the payment of gratuities, pension arrears, and bloc for state retired Civil Service workers while N597,400,000.00 is set aside for the 2014 leave grant for local government workers as well as N2,115,000.000.00 for the payment of leave grant for workers in the State Civil Service respectively.
“The release of the above amount brings to over twenty eight billion Naira, that Governor Umo Eno has so far disbursed for the payments of gratuities and other entitlements since he assumed office a little over one year ago”.
Udoh recalled that governor Umo Eno has always said that, with the rich infrastructural amenities previous administrations had provided, he is determined to maintain and expand as outlined in the A-R-I-S-E Agenda adding that the focus now should be to grow the people, improve their material wellbeing and accelerate developments in the rural areas.
“His passionate dedication to the welfare of the most vulnerable and the neediest in the society has seen him construct, and hand over 36 fully -furnished and fitted 2- bedroom bungalows under the Arise Compassionate Homes Initiative to the poorest and the most vulnerable so far, with 164 currently under construction.”
Udoh further stated that the governor has plans to hand over 200 of those units in his second year and 400 by the end of his first term.
“Already 150 units out of the 236 units at the Grace Homes Estate, are to be given out to civil servants from grades level 1-8, free of charge through a raffle draw selection process.”
On welfare to citizens , Udoh explained that through the A-R-I-S-E Elderly Care Initiatives, N50,000 is given out monthly to 600 elders throughout the 368 wards in the state while Bursaries to students in public tertiary institutions are being paid, alongside grants for students with disabilities.
“WAEC fees for all students continue to be paid and the State’s pass rate ratio has increased exponentially.
“The Governor, through the Bulk Purchase Agency, is distributing staple food items directly to the most vulnerable in the State and also remains deeply grateful for the palliatives so far given to the people of the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Apart from the above humanitarian interventions, Governor Eno, is also undertaking audacious capital projects such as the completion of road infrastructure inherited from previous administrations and the ongoing construction of numerous other road projects he has initiated throughout the state, the flood control tunnel on Atiku Abubakar Way which he started and was commissioned last May, the audacious Arise Park which is a miracle to behold given the fact that the location was previously a desolate and erosion- ravaged ravine, the plan to acquire two brand new CRJ-900 series Bombadier jets to expand the fleet and routes for Ibom Air, to be purchased outright; these add to the planned 19- Storey Ibom Towers in Lagos and the 3- Star Ibom Hotel in Abuja among others.” He said.
