The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the recruitment of 7,069 workers into various arms of the state public service, while education, healthcare, the judiciary and the mainstream civil service account for thousands of the positions.
The Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, disclosed the figure on Wednesday during a media parley organised ahead of activities for the 2026 Public Service Day celebration.
Peters explained that the recruitment was designed to bridge manpower shortages in critical areas while improving the capacity of government institutions to deliver services across the state.
The approved positions include 2,000 personnel for the medical sector, 1,000 secondary school teachers, 1,000 primary school workers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), and about 1,000 officers for the mainstream civil service.
The judiciary is also allocated 1,000 positions, while the state has approved the engagement of 100 Occupational Safety Officers and 25 Legal Officers for the Ministry of Justice.
The distribution puts education and healthcare among the principal beneficiaries of the recruitment plan, a reflection of the state’s stated focus on filling personnel gaps in sectors that directly serve residents.
However, beyond the fresh intake, Peters outlined several measures the administration of Governor Umo Eno has introduced to address workers’ welfare and outstanding obligations.
She disclosed that the state had paid more than ₦90bn from over ₦111bn in inherited gratuity liabilities, while salary payments had continued regularly.
The state also implemented an ₦80,000 minimum wage in November 2024 and introduced a 13th-month salary as part of its remuneration package for public servants.
Peters added that pension increases had been granted to retirees, while outstanding pension contributions had also been settled.
Other welfare initiatives listed by the Head of Service include housing assistance, health insurance, welfare bonuses and teachers’ wardrobe allowances. Government workers have also received continuous training and modern equipment intended to improve their working conditions.
The administration has also focused on career progression within the public service.
According to Peters, civil service examinations have been strengthened, outstanding promotion results released and the 2026 promotion exercise concluded. She said these steps had provided eligible officers with opportunities for career advancement and contributed to improved motivation across the workforce.
The state has also appointed new Permanent Secretaries and an acting Surveyor-General, changes Peters said had reinforced the leadership structure of the public service.
Peters called on public servants to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, discipline, innovation and commitment to their responsibilities.
The emphasis on productivity is placed on an expectation on the incoming recruits as well as existing employees. While the new appointments are expected to increase staffing levels, the effectiveness of the expansion will ultimately depend on how the additional personnel are deployed and how efficiently they contribute to government services.
The recruitment will therefore affect several layers of the state’s public administration, from classrooms and hospitals to courts, ministries and primary schools.
With 7,069 positions now approved, the initiative represents a significant expansion of the state workforce and a fresh recruitment window for qualified residents seeking opportunities within the Akwa Ibom Public Service.
READ RELATED NEWS UPDATES
Akwa Ibom opens first transit hub Airport, targets regional air traffic
Akwa Ibom to renovate NYSC orientation camp
Akwa Ibom community gets first general hospital since 1976
