Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has approved the early payment of December salaries and the 13th-month Christmas bonus for workers in the state ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The move, according to the governor, is aimed at easing financial pressure ahead of the festive season by ensuring that civil servants have access to their earnings in time to meet family needs, make essential purchases, and prepare for holiday expenses without undue hardship.
Eno, in a statement on Monday, said he had directed the Accountant-General to commence immediate disbursement to ensure civil servants receive their wages before Christmas.
He explained that the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and its resolve to promote a people-centred government.
Eno noted that the early payment, widely referred to as the “Eno-mber” salary, would enable families across the state to plan, celebrate, and meet their seasonal obligations without strain.
He added that the initiative has become a consistent policy since the beginning of his administration, stressing that workers remain the engine of government.
“We want our workers to celebrate the season with ease. That is why I have instructed that the 13th-month salary be paid early,” the governor said.