By Peter Onyekachukwu 
…10 Years After, Appointees Seek Gov Eno’s Intervention, Payment For Their Service To the State
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Uyo
UYO: Ten years after leaving office, the former aides who served former Governor Godswill Akpabio as Personal Assistants, Special Assistants and other positions are yet to receive their severance package from Akwa Ibom State government.
The aide left government when the tenure of Akpabio now the Senate President elapsed as Akwa Ibom State Governor on May 29, 2015.
Though the aides were supposed to be paid by the successive government, but Deacon Udom Emmanuel, who took over from Akpabio denied the aides of their entitlements due to the misunderstanding he had with Akpabio and the subsequent defection of Akpabio to APC.
Severance package is a payment or benefits given to an employee of any organization who is leaving due to either layoffs, retirement amongst others.
Just last week, Governor Umo Eno settled the severance package for the local government officials who served under Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
One of the affected aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was mainly the misunderstanding that Udom had with Akpabio that made the former governor rejected to settle, despite the fact that they rally for he (Udom) first and second term elections.
He said the former governor categorized them as AKPABIO’S BOY and refused to pay them of their severance package, even when they were still in PDP with him and laboured for his re-election in 2019.
He pleaded with Governor Umo Eno, who they described as a man with good heart to revisit their case because they did not work for Akpabio but Akwa Ibom State government and approved the the money for the severance package for them.
He also expressed the support and loyalty of of all their colleagues who served in Akpabio’s government to the administration of Governor Umo Eno, assuring him of their support and commitment to his re-election come 2027.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, over the weekend presented cheques of severance benefits to the immediate past elected officers across the 31 Local Government Councils in the State who served under Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
He said this is to underscore his visionary and pragmatic leadership strides tilted towards ensuring a people-centric governance in the state
Presenting the cheques during an interactive session at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs grounds, Government House, Uyo, Governor Eno hinted that the payment is for the immediate past elected Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and Councillors of all the Local Government Councils who served within the 2020 and 2023 political dispensation.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the Governor noted that the gesture is in fulfillment of his electioneering campaign promise to the grassroot politicians for their selflessness, support and loyalty.
Former Aides served the state at various capacity and despite refusal to pay them by H E Udom Emmanuel, worked for the emergence of H.E Pastor Umo Eno in their respective wards and local government areas with handful of them appointed into Central Campaigne Planning Committee during 2023 general elections. campaigns,
Meanwhile, some Akwa Ibom persons have slammed former Governor Udom Emmanuel for making several families to suffer by refusing to pay entitlements of the aides that served under former Governor Godswill Akpabio simply because he had a political misunderstanding with Akpabio.
He said as a leader, the immediate past governor wouldn’t have extended the infighting with the man that fought against all odds to make him governor to innocent Akwa Ibom people who rendered service to the state.
While sympathizing with the affected former aides, he advised Governor Umo Eno, who he said is a God sent leader to write his name in gold by approving the severance benefits for those aide to use and take care of their needs after government as their colleagues shortly after them were paid by H.E Udom but vowed not to pay the said Akpabio’s Boys.