The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Akwa Ibom State Council, has concluded arrangements to honour the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, with a prestigious Award of Excellence in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the welfare of senior citizens.
The union also disclosed that the occasion will be used to formally endorse the governor for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the NUP, the twin ceremony of award presentation and endorsement will hold on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Ibom Hall Ground along IBB Avenue, Uyo, the state capital.
The event, which is expected to attract pensioners from all the 31 Local Government Areas of the state, will commence at 10:00 a.m. prompt.
This was contained in an official statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the union, Pastor Sylvester O. Nkodo, and the State Secretary, Obong Cosmas M. Essien, and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
In the statement, the pensioners explained that their decision to honour and endorse Governor Eno was borne out of genuine appreciation for the unprecedented attention his administration has given to the plight of retirees in the state.
The union noted that for many years, pensioners in Akwa Ibom went through untold hardship due to non-payment of gratuities and irregular payment of monthly pensions, a situation that has now become history under the current administration.
Listing the governor’s achievements, the NUP said Governor Eno has so far paid over N100 billion backlog of gratuities and pensions owed to retired civil servants by previous administrations in the state.
The payment, according to them, has brought great relief to thousands of families who had waited for years to receive their entitlements after meritorious service to the state.
The union further commended the governor for ensuring the regular and prompt payment of monthly pensions without fail, describing it as a clear departure from the past where pensioners were owed for months.
They also applauded the recent upward review of monthly pensions in the state, which they said has helped to cushion the effect of the current economic realities on senior citizens.
Another major intervention highlighted by the pensioners is the provision of free medical healthcare services for retirees across the state, a gesture they described as life-saving for many elderly people.
The union also singled out the establishment of a state-of-the-art Senior Citizens Centre for the elderly, which provides recreation, healthcare support and social interaction for retired persons.
The statement added that Governor Eno’s humane and compassionate disposition towards pensioners has restored dignity and hope to the senior citizens community in Akwa Ibom.
To this end, the union has directed all its members across the state to be seated at the venue of the ceremony by 8:00 a.m. to give the governor a rousing welcome.
The event will be chaired by the Political Leader of Eket Senatorial District, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, who is also a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works.
Dignitaries expected at the occasion include the President-General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.
Also expected is the President-General of Fathers in Faith for Good Governance, Prelate Isaiah Issong, who has been a strong supporter of the governor’s ARISE Agenda.
Others are the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area and State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, alongside other local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and stakeholders.
The union expressed confidence that with Governor Eno’s second term, pensioners in the state will enjoy even greater welfare packages and social protection.
They called on all Akwa Ibom people to continue to support the administration in its efforts to build a more prosperous and inclusive state for all.
