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By Myke Agunwa
The controversy trailing a statement credited to some aides of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state has been laid to rest as the governor clarified that none of his aides earn less than N1million.
The governor stated that the insinuation that his aides are poorly paid is mischievous adding that N1million cannot be described as mere stipend as it can go a long way to solve existential problems.
Speaking during a constituency engagement over the weekend with residents of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, the governor dismissed widespread claims of poor remuneration to his aides as “pure mischief.”
“Let me set the record straight, no PA in this administration earns less than a million naira. When some of them speak, they make it sound like a mere stipend. To me, ₦1m is not a stipend, it is serious money,” he said.
He singled out Blessed Essien, a PA on Protocol, who used part of his earnings to fund a borehole and water distribution system for his community.
“Here is a young man who, out of the allowance you all call ‘stipend,’ executed a project that benefits his people. That is the spirit we want,” he remarked.
As part of his push for transparency, Eno announced plans to publish the full list of political appointees and their local government areas in national newspapers, urging constituents to hold them accountable.
“Call your PAs, call your SAs, your SSAs, even your commissioners, ask them what they’ve done for you,” the governor charged.
To appreciate the contributions of Essien to his constituents, the governor promoted him to Special Assistant on Public Works, citing his initiative as an example of responsible leadership.