By Favour SOLOMON
The Office of the Accountant General, Akwa Ibom State, has rewarded excellence and dedication among its workforce, as five members of staff and two departments received special recognition for outstanding performance in the 2025 fiscal year.
The recognition, which came with cash rewards and certificates, was a major highlight of the 2025 Christmas Carol of the Office, held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The Departments of Research, Planning and Statistics, and Audit emerged as top-performing units during the year under review.
Speaking at the event themed “Praising God in Songs,” the Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, said the initiative was designed to motivate staff and promote a culture of commitment, discipline, and productivity in the public service.
According to him, rewarding exceptional performance would spur other employees to give their best in service delivery, noting that a motivated workforce remains critical to effective governance.
Pastor Andrew-Essien attributed improved performance within the Office to the enabling environment created by Governor Umo Eno, commending the Governor for approving the payment of salary bonuses, popularly referred to as the 13th month, clearing the backlog of gratuities, and ensuring the regular payment of salaries and pensions.
He pledged the unwavering support of the Office of the Accountant General to Governor Eno and the implementation of his ARISE Agenda, describing the policy direction as people-centred and productivity-driven.
Reflecting on the outgoing year, the Accountant General, who is also a Permanent Secretary, thanked God for a successful and eventful 2025 fiscal year and expressed appreciation to staff for their dedication to duty and commitment to the Office’s weekly prayer assemblies.
He noted that the weekly exhortations had helped foster high moral standards, harmony, and peaceful coexistence among staff, adding that the Office recorded no death throughout the year.
“I am grateful to God that we did not record any death in the Office throughout 2025. We therefore set aside this day to appreciate God in songs for the gift of Jesus Christ and the gift of life,” he said.
Pastor Andrew-Essien urged staff to continue to live in peace, show love to one another, and extend care to the needy during the yuletide, while also soliciting their continued cooperation in the 2026 fiscal year.
Earlier, the Deputy Accountant General, Mrs. Emem George, who set the tone for the Christmas Carol, expressed gratitude to God for His benevolence towards the Office in the outgoing year and commended the Accountant General for dedicating a day for staff to collectively appreciate God.
In his exhortation, the guest minister, Rev. Dominic Paul, reminded the gathering that thanksgiving is a divine command, irrespective of circumstances, urging staff to cultivate a heart of gratitude at all times.
The event also featured the rededication of the staff and the Office of the Accountant General to God, as well as song renditions by various departments.
Staff who received special recognition awards for outstanding commitment and dedication were Mr. Emmanuel Willie, Mr. Vincent Asuquo, Mr. Godwin Umoudi, Mr. Peter Usanga, and Mrs. Dayeabasi Godsien.
