Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has strongly defended the remuneration package for his Personal Assistants (PAs), declaring that none of them earns below ₦1 million monthly.
Speaking during a constituency engagement in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency on Friday, the governor dismissed what he described as “mischief” surrounding public commentary on the welfare of his aides.
“Let me set the record straight: no PA in this administration earns less than a million naira. When some of them speak, they make it sound like a mere stipend. To me, ₦1m is not a stipend, it is serious money,” Governor Eno insisted.
To buttress his point, the governor cited the example of his aide on Protocol, Blessed Essien, who reportedly committed part of his allowance to fund a borehole and water distribution project in his community.
“Here is a young man who, out of the allowance you all call ‘stipend,’ executed a project that benefits his people. That is the spirit we want,” the governor said.
In recognition of Essien’s initiative, Eno announced his promotion to Special Assistant on Public Works, describing him as an embodiment of the kind of leadership his administration is encouraging among appointees.
As part of a broader transparency drive, the governor also disclosed plans to publish the full list of political appointees alongside their local government areas in national newspapers. He urged constituents to directly hold aides and commissioners accountable for grassroots impact.
“Call your PAs, call your SAs, your SSAs, even your commissioners, and ask them what they’ve done for you,” Eno challenged the audience.
The governor’s remarks have stirred fresh debate on political appointees’ welfare, accountability, and the expectations placed on public office holders in Akwa Ibom State.
