Akwa Ibom workers receive salary early despite lockdown

The Akwa Ibom state government has paid civil servants in its employ their salaries for April despite the global economic and health crisis.

One of the workers said the payment of salaries before the 24th day of the month, affirms the vow of Udom Emmanuel, the governor, to always make the welfare of workers his top priority, even in challenging economic circumstances.

Arit Akpan , a grade level 9 worker in the state ministry of agriculture, women affairs and social welfare, told reporters she was pleasantly surprised to see the salary alert.

“With the economy of the country nearly brought to a standstill and a deliberate lockdown policy to control the spread of the Coronavirus disease, it had been feared that payment of workers salaries would be delayed especially since we had done virtually nothing than stay at home with our families for most of April,” she said.

”May God bless our dear Governor for his deep commitment to the welfare of the workers.”

On assumption of office in 2015, the governor cleared the backlog of salary arrears of workers, up to ten years.

The governor recently gave food relief to all the over 300 villages in the state, to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic- a gesture that has been lauded and celebrated by the people of the state.