Press Release
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has tasked the new Head of Civil Service, to prioritise the training and retraining of the state workforce with a view to enhancing professionalism even, emphasising the need for efficiency and commitment.
Speaking after the swearing in of Mrs Elsie Anietie Peters, at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Governor Eno described Civil Service as critical to the success of the ARISE Agenda, that must be well positioned to deliver on its responsibilities.
“The Civil Service is the critical piece of our ARISE Agenda, and it is my hope and belief that, under the leadership of the new Head of Service, we will continue to work together, grow together and serve our dear State with faithfulness, dedication and with unbridled passion,” he said.
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Governor Eno said the State under his leadership will remain committed to the welfare of workers, pointing out that, “salaries are paid regularly, same with pensions, and most of what the Organized Labour and the State Government had agreed to do are being done. We have one of the most robust and collaborative Labour-Government relations in the country, and we remain dedicated to doing even more.
“We remain dedicated to the improvement of the welfare of our Civil Service workers. We have demonstrated this through the regular payment of gratuities, which we met at N110 billion backlog from 2012- May 29, 2023. Today, we have paid over N75.2 billion of the inherited backlog. N1.3b was recently released, and we have cleared the backlog from 2012 -March 2021.
“You would agree with me, that this is a great achievement and a fulfillment of my campaign promise. We will continue to pay down the backlog until the outstanding is completely cleared, and we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the funds he has provided the states to carry out both their capital and recurrent expenditures. We have to show those who served our State diligently that we care,” he stated.
He congratulated the New Head of the Civil Service, saying that with her background and experience, she has what it takes to lead a Civil Service where the key ingredients would be loyalty to the State and the Governor, and a good understanding of the ideals that shape the ARISE Agenda.
“Faithfulness, which is also loyalty, is not optional but a requirement. God looks for faithfulness more than talents. God does not look for the most gifted, the most educated, the most charismatic, the most visible. He looks for the most faithful.”
Making reference to Matthew 6:24, he equally advised those playing hide and seek to desist from it as no one can serve two masters at the same time.
The state chief Executive charged Government appointees and workers to remain loyal, faithful, and productive in services for the betterment of the State.
“Everybody may not agree with us, and that is understood and allowed. But what we will not tolerate is for people to believe that they can be in Government and be working against the Government.
“Those who are not willing and ready to work with us and show loyalty to what we stand for are free to leave. My appointees are called “Aides to the Governor.” They are expected to work closely with the Governor and interpret his vision for the development of the State. Faithfulness and loyalty should be sacrosanct, non-negotiable, and this is not an Akwa Ibom standard, it is a universal standard, so we are not reinventing the wheels here.
“Let me also say here that those who think they can try our resolve to maintain peace should have a rethink,” he said.
Governor Eno thanked the immediate past Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien, for his diligent service to the State especially, “for the great contributions he made in aligning the civil service with our governance philosophy, the ARISE Agenda, and for being in the vanguard of interpreting my vision to have a lean, professional and ICT-enabled Civil Service.”
Speaking with Government House Correspondents after the swearing-in ceremony, Mrs. Peters thanked God and Governor Umo Eno for the privilege, pledging to take the State Civil Service to an enviable dimension as obtainable in civilized climes.
Mrs Peters, who took over from Elder Effiong Essien who held the fort from 2019 to 2025, is the fourth female Head of Civil Service to be appointed by the state government.
Her appointment was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwa, who described the appointment as a strategic step in strengthening the state’s administrative architecture in line with the vision of Governor Umo Eno.
An indigene of Ikot Akpandem in Eket Local Government Area, she brings more than two decades of distinguished public service to the office.
The Head of Civil Service holds advanced degrees, including a Master of Science in Public Order and Information Management, a Master’s in Public Administration, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology and Anthropology, qualifications that complement her extensive training in intelligence analysis, crime prevention, leadership, and security management both locally and internationally.
Before her appointment, she served as Permanent Secretary in the Special Services Department in the Governor’s Office, where she coordinated sensitive security operations, supervised intelligence assessments, and represented Akwa Ibom at top-level federal security meetings.
Her contributions to capacity building in the civil service are widely acknowledged, having trained hundreds of officers in security administration, ethics, and leadership. Her impressive profile is further highlighted by numerous awards, including the Adamawa State NYSC Honours Award and recognitions for service delivery and punctuality.
