4,000 Newly Employed Public Servants To Strengthen A’Ibom Civil Service, Says Gov Eno

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said the recruitment of 4,000 new civil servants was aimed at filling identified vacancies and strengthening the state’s public service for improved efficiency and service delivery. Governor Eno spoke on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during an orientation programme for the newly recruited workers at the Ibom Tropicana Event Centre, Uyo.

The orientation follows his earlier announcement directing the newly employed civil servants to resume work on October 1, 2026. Explaining the rationale behind the recruitment, Eno said a staff verification exercise conducted after he assumed office revealed more than 2,000 ghost workers, as well as several employees who had retired but remained on the payroll.

He explained that after addressing the identified irregularities, the government found it necessary to fill the resulting vacancies and strengthen the workforce. According to him, the recruitment was not intended to inflate the size of the civil service but to address manpower shortages and improve its capacity to deliver public services. “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,” the Governor said.

A cross-section of the newly employed civil servants on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. He charged the new employees to demonstrate commitment, discipline, and professionalism in their duties, urging them to bring fresh ideas and innovation into the system. Governor Eno further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the prompt payment of salaries and gratuities.

Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Elsie Peters, expressed confidence in the quality of the newly recruited workforce, describing the orientation and training as important steps towards revitalising the state civil service. She acknowledged Governor Eno’s support for the public service and expressed optimism that the new employees would contribute to improved performance and greater efficiency across government institutions.

Some of the newly recruited civil servants expressed excitement over their appointments, describing the opportunity to join the state workforce as a significant milestone. They also commended the recruitment process, which they described as fair and credible, saying their selection was based on merit and not favouritism. Among the beneficiaries who shared their experiences were Jennifer Ekott, Glory Wilson and Imo Obot, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the state.

The orientation programme is expected to familiarise the new employees with the values, expectations and responsibilities of the public service as they begin their careers in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service.