Akwa Ibom appoints 4,000 new civil servants to address vacancies, governor says

Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State formally introduced 4,000 newly recruited civil servants during an orientation ceremony at the Ibom Tropicana Event Centre in Uyo on 3 November 2026. The event marked the start of the new staff’s duties, which had been instructed to resume work on 1 October 2026. Both the governor and the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, highlighted the recruitment as a response to identified manpower gaps rather than an expansion of the civil service.

Eno explained that a verification exercise carried out shortly after he assumed office revealed more than 2,000 ghost workers and several retired employees still on the payroll. The audit exposed a significant vacancy gap, prompting the administration to recruit qualified personnel to fill the positions and improve the efficiency of public institutions. He stressed that the appointments were based on merit, describing the selection process as fair and credible, and urged the new staff to bring discipline, professionalism and digital skills to their roles.

The orientation programme, organised by the state’s civil service, aimed to familiarise the recruits with the values, expectations and responsibilities of public service. Among the beneficiaries who spoke publicly were Jennifer Ekott, Glory Wilson and Imo Obot, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state. Mrs Peters welcomed the cohort, noting that the quality of work delivered by the new employees would determine the real impact of the recruitment on citizens’ experience of government services.

Background

The recruitment drive follows a staff verification exercise conducted at the beginning of Governor Eno’s tenure, which identified over 2,000 ghost workers and a number of retired officials still drawing salaries. The audit was intended to clean the payroll and address irregularities that had inflated the civil service headcount without corresponding service delivery. In response, the administration announced the need to fill the resulting vacancies, leading to the hiring of 4,000 new civil servants across various government departments. Both Channels TV and The Sun Nigeria reported that the governor reiterated his commitment to prompt payment of salaries and gratuities, and credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making federal funds available to support state projects and worker entitlements.

Why it matters

The influx of 4,000 staff is expected to bolster the capacity of Akwa Ibom’s public institutions, addressing service delivery gaps identified by the audit. By replacing ghost workers and retired personnel, the state aims to improve efficiency, reduce wasteful expenditure and enhance citizen access to government services. The governor highlighted the importance of digitalisation, urging the new recruits to adopt technology and introduce fresh ideas to accelerate government processes. Prompt salary payments and the assurance of gratuities are intended to maintain morale and reduce the risk of future payroll irregularities.

What happens next

The newly appointed civil servants are set to begin their duties immediately following the orientation, with the expectation that they will integrate into their respective departments and contribute to the state’s development agenda. The administration has signalled ongoing efforts to digitalise public services, and the performance of the new workforce will be monitored to assess improvements in efficiency and citizen satisfaction. No further recruitment phases have been announced, and the focus remains on consolidating the current appointments and delivering on the promised enhancements to public service delivery.