-Says Gov pitching their communities against them
By the Guide Newspaper
Governor Umo Eno’s recent remark in Eket Federal Constituency that he pays some of his aides a million naira monthly while some earn over a million naira yet they fail to give back to their communities has elicited mixed reactions from the Governor’s aides and social commentators in the state.
Speaking in an exclusive with the Guide Newspaper, one of the aides to Governor Umo Eno who is serving as Ward PA alledged that the governor by his remarks on paying his aides humongous salaries is attempting to pitch the people against them.
He wondered why the Governor should revel in using inflammatory rhetoric and spreading misinformation to score cheap political goal at the detriment of the welfare of his ‘foot solders’.
The aide revealed that contrary to the governor’s claim, as a Ward PA, he earns N475, 000 every month which can barely cater for his needs as a family man.
Meanwhile data obtained by the Guide Newspaper during the week reveal that Personal Assistants to Governor Umo Eno earn monthly salary of N425,000, while Ward Personal Assistants (Ward PAs) to governor earn N475,000, monthly salary. Aides to the governor in the category of Special Assistants earn N775,000 monthly while Supervisory Special Advisors received monthly salary of N1million.
The data reveal that the highest paid among the governor’s aides are the Senior Special Advisers to the governor who earn N1,145, 000 every month.
Meanwhile a social commentator in the state Comrade Itoro Etti, has called on the aides to Governor Eno to give back to their communities as away of extending the governor’s generosity to their people.
Hear him: “The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has revealed that his aides, including Personal and Special Assistants, earn over 1 million naira monthly. This is not an allegation—it’s a fact.Yet, many aides fail to give back to their communities, neglecting the Governor’s generosity. Some even prioritize promoting other aides’ activities over their principal’s agenda.The Governor’s frankness at a recent event deserves praise and accolades.”
“If you’ve been entrusted with an appointment, it’s your responsibility to contribute meaningfully to your community’s development. Dear aides, support the Governor’s success by championing his ARISE AGENDA in your communities. Be grateful, be proactive, and make a difference, don’t be a hide and seek aide to the Governor.” He added.
It would be recalled that Governor Umo Eno earlier this year had issued queries to over 200 of his aides accusing them of disloyalty to his administration.
The Guide Newspaper reports that in the query dated February 25, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Enobong Uwah, said the affected aides were absent at the inauguration of the Model Health Centres at Udung Uko and Ika Local Government Areas (LGAs) on February 21.
An action Uwah said amounts to “insubordination and disloyalty” to the government that appointed them.
The development was followed with a flurry of remarks from the aides accusing the governor of failing to release money for them to mobilize support for him at the grassroot.
“They expect us to use our salaries for transportation to governor’s appointments. The governor has refused to release funds to SA in charge of grassroots mobilisation for them to mobilise people to government events, as was always done in the times of (former governors) Senator Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel, so he wants the aides to take the place of the cheerleaders by standing under the sun alongside the purple, lemon, orange and golden girls.” One of the aides who spoke unbehalf of his colleagues had told newsmen.
