Governor Umo Eno’s administration in Akwa Ibom State has paid N81.06 billion in pensions and gratuities to civil servants in its first three years. This amount is more than what was paid during the last four years of former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, according to a review of Akwa Ibom State’s audited financial statements.
The review of the state’s audited accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025 shows that Mr Eno’s government disbursed N22.28 billion in 2023, N27.79 billion in 2024 and N30.98 billion in 2025. This brings the total payments to N81.06 billion.
In contrast, audited financial statements for Mr Emmanuel’s last four years in office show that his administration paid a total of N70.07 billion between 2019 and 2022. This includes N16.99 billion in 2019, N15.67 billion in 2020, N16.54 billion in 2021 and N20.87 billion in 2022.
The N81.06 billion paid by the current administration is N10.99 billion higher than the amount paid during the final four years of the previous government. This achievement comes after years of complaints from retirees about unpaid pensions and gratuities in Akwa Ibom.
Outstanding Liabilities Decrease
The 2025 audited financial statements show that the state’s outstanding pension and gratuity obligations stood at N38.02 billion as of December 31, 2025. This includes N14.35 billion in gratuities for civil servants, N3.66 billion in unpaid pensions for civil servants, and N20 billion for future pension obligations not yet due.
These outstanding liabilities are much lower than the N111 billion backlog of gratuities, pensions and other retiree benefits which Mr Eno said he inherited when he took office in May 2023.
“I remain on track to liquidate the backlog hopefully before the end of the first term,” the governor has consistently stated.
Revenue Context
The pension payments occurred during a time of high revenue for the state. PREMIUM TIMES recently reported that Akwa Ibom generated N2.53 trillion in revenue within the first 32 months of the Eno administration. This amount is more than the total revenue received during Mr Emmanuel’s eight years in office.
The increased revenue helps in understanding the spending patterns between the two administrations.
Years of Protests
Pension and gratuity payments were major issues during Mr Emmanuel’s administration. PREMIUM TIMES reported that in July 2016, many pensioners marched through Uyo during Mr Emmanuel’s birthday to protest unpaid pensions and gratuities. Some protesters were later arrested for unlawful protest. The case lingered until 2018 when the court dismissed it in favor of the protesters.
The protests continued in subsequent years. In April 2021, widows and next of kin of deceased primary school teachers protested the government’s failure to fulfill its promises regarding gratuities and pensions. This issue continued into the next year. In August 2022, next of kin of retired primary school teachers protested unpaid death benefits, gratuities and pension entitlements, claiming the state government had not cleared older debts.
Retirees Acknowledge Improvement
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Benson Benjamin, who has led several protests by retired primary school teachers, said payments have become more consistent under the current government.
“Umo Eno’s administration is far better than the previous administration in terms of payment of unpaid pensions and gratuities of living teachers and next of kin,” he said.
“If they miss paying in a particular month, the following month it will be paid.”
Mr Benjamin also noted that the government has started helping retirees with serious medical conditions even if they are not yet due for gratuity payment. However, he mentioned that retired primary school teachers still have pension arrears from several months dating back to 2015.
Primary School Retirees Still Lag
Felix Cookey, the Chairman of the Forum of Retired Primary School Teachers and Next of Kin, also recognized improvements but said primary school retirees face unique challenges due to their large numbers.
He noted that pension payments are now regular across sectors, while gratuity payments for civil servants and secondary school retirees have advanced to those who retired in 2023 and 2024. However, for retired primary school teachers, gratuity payments have only reached those who retired in 2014.
“The governor has done his best when you compare it with the last administration on retirees’ emoluments. This administration is far ahead,” Mr Cookey told PREMIUM TIMES.
“He started clearing gratuities from 2011 and has reached 2014. The challenge is that the amount released monthly to the primary school sector is inadequate because the number of retirees is far higher.”
He added that the main issue still unresolved is unpaid pension arrears owed to some retired primary school teachers.
Local Government Workers Not Left Behind
The President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Akwa Ibom State, Anestina Iweh, also said gratuity payments have improved greatly under Mr Eno’s administration. She noted that when Mr Eno took office, gratuity payments for local government workers had only reached retirees up to September 2014.
Now, payments have progressed to include retirees up to 2022, and some retirees from 2023 have also started receiving their gratuities.
“As of now, there are no gratuity arrears in the local government. Promotion arrears and leave grant arrears have also been cleared,” she said.
Labour Backs Government’s Efforts
Sunny James, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, praised the administration’s work for retirees.
“This administration of Governor Umo Eno is committed to workers, especially in the gradual settlement of outstanding gratuities, which has brought relief and renewed hope to many retirees,” Mr James said on May 1 during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration.
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