Akwa Ibom State Government is set to commence implementation of the new N80,000 minimum wage for verified workers in its employ, beginning from the January 2025 salaries, with arrears from the effective date of November 2024.

The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, made the announcement while speaking at the 2025 Thanksgiving Service of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

The Governor commended the Akwa Ibom NUJ for cooperating with his administration as partners in the pursuit of his administration’s ARISE Agenda, by maintaining professionalism and patriotism in their reportage, as he admonished those in the character of demarketing the state to desist from such, to enhance greater collaboration towards the development of the State.

He particularly lauded the leadership provided by the current State Council Chairman of the Union in the State, Comrade Amos Etuk, and assured that the State government will fulfill its promise of completing the Union Secretariat during his tenure as Chairman.

Recalling his administration’s efforts towards clearing the N97 billion naira backlog of gratuities and other arrears of entitlements of workers in the State, as well as other expression of goodwill towards Civil Servants in the State, Governor Eno reassured of his commitment to prioritize the welfare of the Akwa Ibom workforce, in keeping with his pact to reciprocate their support towards his emergence as governor.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, in his thanksgiving speech at the event, expressed gratitude of members and leadership of the Union under his watch to God for the special grace to maintain the forth estate of the realm, amid mounting challenges, also thanking Governor Umo Eno for his media friendly disposition.

Government house correspondent Jane Uwa reports that Etuk said the hosting of the 2025 Thanksgiving Service in Ikot Ekpene Udo was the Unions way of honoring the Governor and assured that Journalists in the State will continue to ensure a collaborative working relationship with the Umo Eno-led administration in the State and promote the aspirations of the ARISE Agenda.