By Egufe Yafugborhi & Chioma Onuegbu

GOVERNOR Umo Eno says Akwa Ibom State under his administration has cleared N42 billion out of N93 billion arrears of gratuities inherited from previous administrations.

Eno disclosed this, yesterday, in his New Year day broadcast in Uyo to keep Akwa Ibom people up to speed on his achievements and aspirations 19 months into his governorship.

He said: “We will continue to pay down the backlog of gratuities. So far, we have paid nearly N42 billion out of about N93 billion we had inherited from previous administrations dating back to 2012.”

On the minimum wage, the governor stated: “As soon as ongoing verification exercise is completed, we will commence payment of the N80,000 minimum wage we announced, with effect from November 1, 2024.

“Within 19 months of assuming office, we had undertaken 157 road projects including roads inherited from previous administrations, many of which have been completed and commissioned.

“We will continue payment of the N50,000 monthly to 600 elders drawn from all the 368 wards in the state in our Arise Elders Care Initiative.

“Our Arise Free Food Voucher programme administered by the Bulk Purchase Agency as a temporary intervention scheme will continue while we expect bountiful harvest in the new year.

“We will continue to build more Arise Compassionate Homes. Currently, over 112 have been built and handed to beneficiaries. Our target is to deliver 400 homes, at least one in all 368 wards in our state by end of our first term in office.”

This new year, Governor Eno announced his administration would hold three summits on power, tourism and business towards improving those sectors to boost the state’s economy.

To Akwa Ibom people, Eno appealed: “Politics should not divide us or severe our bonds of kindredship. We are first and foremost Akwaibomites before we became members of any political parties.

“Let’s continue to hold aloft our defined identity as a peaceful, prosperous and forward-looking people. I will continue to run the state, involving and consulting our leaders across party lines because if we succeed, Akwa Ibom succeeds and succeed, we will.”