Akwa Ibom pays ₦97bn in gratuities amid fiscal transparency concerns

The Akwa Ibom State Government has paid ₦97.03 billion in outstanding gratuities to pensioners, addressing a portion of the ₦111 billion backlog inherited by the Umo Eno administration. Additionally, Governor Eno approved ₦3.9 billion for 2026 leave grants for civil servants, which will be disbursed in three tranches starting in September.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the state's fiscal transparency. While Akwa Ibom continues to publish quarterly budget implementation reports, the level of detail has significantly decreased. Recent reports have shrunk from over 20 pages to as few as three to five pages, omitting granular capital expenditure data, project-level allocations, and detailed revenue tracking. The organization BudgIT noted that the lack of depth makes it difficult for oversight institutions and citizens to independently trace how revenue is converted into specific projects and programs.