On time, on target, as two civil servants in Akwa Ibom State receive automatic promotion for punctuality

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Government has taken a significant step in motivating its workforce by recognizing two outstanding civil servants with automatic special promotions and a cash reward of ₦100,000 each.

The initiative is part of the state’s employee reward program aimed at acknowledging and appreciating the hard work and dedication of its civil servants.

The Special Promotion was announced by the Head of Civil Service of Akwa Ibom State, Elder Effiong Essien, during the Public Lecture organized by the Office of the Head of Civil Service at the Auditorium, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, for workers, as part of activities marking the 2025 Public Service Week celebration in the State.

According to the Head of Civil Service, the two workers, Barr Victor Fabian, a Principal State Council with the Ministry of Justice and Ms. Itoro Ernest Udofia, a Deputy Director of Promotions, the Ministry of Trade and Investment, were the first two Civil Servants, who reported for the Public Lecture and were found seated, in readiness for the commencement of the Public Lecture as early as 9 am when the Head of Civil Service went earlier for an inspection of Auditorium.

Elder Effiong Essien, who was presenting a Welcome Address at the Public Lecture said, it was deserving to reward the two workers for their punctuality to serve as an encouragement to others.

The Head of Civil Service used the occasion to express appreciation to the State Governor Pastor Umo Eno for his Worker-friendly disposition which has been demonstrated in numerous largesse given to workers in the state and urged the workers to see the Public Service Week as a period to ease themselves from their tireless service behind the scene towards the success of government activities.

While emphasizing the importance of the theme – Leveraging Technology For A Smart and Agile Public Service, Elder Essien urged all Civil Servants to innovate and move with the Technology trend if they must succeed in the 21st ICT era.

In his Lecture, the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Frank Ekpenyong enumerated the gains of Technology in the Public Service as experienced during the last staff verification exercise and charged the workers to upscale their skills in ICT as most areas of the Service such as Payroll, Personnel Records, Pensions and Staff Bank details are fast becoming computerized.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, a retired Permanent Secretary, Sir Essang Nsa Bassey expressed appreciation to the Head of Civil Service for inviting him to serve to emphasize that, having traversed almost all the MDAs of Government during his service years, he has a good grasp of the service and therefore is in standing to admonish the workers on the path to tread with regards to the 21st Technology.

The Public Lecture which was attended by Permanent Secretaries, Directors and the entire workforce of Akwa Ibom State, featured an interactive Question and Answer session as well as Goodwill Messages by the Chairmàn, NLC, Comrade (Elder); the Dean, College of Permanent Secretaries, Barr Uduak Eyo-Nsa, the State Coordinator, NDE, Mrs Uduak Effiong Essien, the Chairman of, Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Ekerebong Umoh and the representative of the State Chief Judge, Justice Winifred Umoh.

In her vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Mrs. Grace Akpan thanked God for the clement success of the event, thanked the Governor for restoring the Public Service Week Celebration, thanked the Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy for the erudite presentation, the Head of Service for being a good host and the workers for turning up en masse for the occasion.

Mrs. Grsce Akpan reminded the workers of the remaining activities including a Novelty Football Match between the Mainstream Service and the Unified LG Service staff on Friday 27th, a Roadwalk on Saturday 28th and a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 29th at the International Christian Worship Centre and requested them to attend all the remaining activities.