Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said the recruitment of 4,000 new public servants will strengthen the state’s civil service and improve the delivery of government services.
Eno made this known on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during an orientation programme for the newly employed workers at the Ibom Tropicana Event Centre in Uyo.
The programme followed the governor’s earlier directive that the recruited civil servants should resume duty on October 1, 2026.
Explaining the reason for the recruitment, Eno said a staff verification exercise conducted after he assumed office uncovered more than 2,000 ghost workers, alongside some retired employees who were still receiving salaries.
He said the government addressed the irregularities and subsequently identified vacancies that needed to be filled to improve staffing levels across the public service.
According to the governor, the recruitment was not aimed at expanding the civil service unnecessarily but at addressing manpower shortages and improving its overall efficiency.
“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,” he said.
Eno urged the new employees to approach their responsibilities with discipline, dedication and professionalism. He also encouraged them to introduce fresh ideas and innovative approaches that would improve the performance of government institutions.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the timely payment of salaries and gratuities, assuring workers of continued attention to their welfare.
Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, described the orientation and training programme as an important step towards improving the state’s public service.
She commended the governor’s support for the civil service and expressed confidence that the newly recruited workers would contribute to better performance and more effective service delivery.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Jennifer Ekott, Glory Wilson and Imo Obot, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to join the state workforce.
They also described the recruitment exercise as fair and transparent, saying their appointments were based on merit rather than favouritism.
The orientation programme is designed to familiarise the new employees with the standards, responsibilities and expectations of the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service as they begin their careers.
