Gov Umo Eno and the Flawless Premium on Social Welfare

By Tony Udoh

It was Benjamin Disraeli, the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, a British statesman, and Conservative politician in his 1845 novel "Sybil or the Two Nations" that said, Power has only one duty - to secure the social welfare of the people.

This submission by the two term British Prime Minister enjoyed overwhelming acceptability and endorsement, and was also in alignment with "The Condition of the Working Class in England" published same year by renowned German political economist and philosopher, Friedrich Engels.

Many countries across the world have also adopted and constitutionalised this concept. In Nigeria, for instance, the 1999 constitution in Chapter 2, section 14, article 2(b) clearly states, "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government."

However, in practical terms, there are only a few leaders, like Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno who have adopted, and personalised the letter and spirit of Disraeli's welfare concept.

Since assumption of office on May 29, 2023, Governor Umo Eno has through regular release of funds for arrears of gratuities, education intervention, bursary, series of appointments, and others, demonstrated that the people's welfare is his only duty for holding their mandate in trust; and that the ARISE Agenda of his administration is only a precursor to achieving a state of social welfare better attained than imagined.

It suffices to mention that for most Nigerians, one of the most unsettling news in the year 2023 has been the removal of fuel subsidy which has brought an unimaginable level of hardship on all. The cost of transportation, food items, and indeed everything tripled soon after the pronouncement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While some states in the country only collected and distributed the palliative sent by the federal government, Governor Umo Eno, on his part, set up a committee compromising stakeholders from different sectors of the economy including labour and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to draft modalities that would help to reach out to the people with some palliative to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Consequently, the State government distributed a total of 92, 836 bags of rice to all its citizenry, with 40 bags sent to each of the 2, 272 gazetted villages in the state, and 1400 bags to security agencies, non - indigenes and others. While 19, 821 bags of rice was received from the federal government, the State government provided 73, 015 bags to meet up with the required need of the State.

Unlike the usual practice where, in some cases, the items ended up in the hands of a few politicians and their cronies, Governor Umo Eno in his commitment to equity and fairness ensured that the food items were delivered to the different villages and were recieved by the village heads, chairmen and their youth leaders.

The Umo Eno approach, besides being widely applauded, enhanced a smooth and peaceful distribution, and according to fillers from different quarters, for the first time, government intervention effort reached every nook and cranny of the state.

Besides the above, the government set aside N2 billion as three months salary bonus to civil servants and paid N10, 000 to all the civil servants in the state since September. The state also declared ticket free days for all transport operators and traders in the state.

Similarly, the state also paid N10, 000 as bursary to over 3000 students of Akwa State origin in public tertiary institutions. There is an ongoing construction of model schools that will be laced with free exercise books, uniforms, and shoes to pupils in the state, as well as a plan to introduce CNG buses/electric taxis for affordable transportation among others.

The welfare packages and programmes of the Umo Eno- led administration is evidently inexhaustive. Last Christmas, workers across the State received a 13th month salary code named "Enomber," students are recieving bursary, the physically challenged grants, and patronages, and many more.

Compelled by his unquenchable desire to ensure that more Akwa Ibomites, especially the poorest of the poor are touched, Governor Umo Eno initiated the Arise Initiative for the Elderly where N50, 000, medical checks and multivitamins are given to 600 elderly citizens every month.

Also is the Arise Compassionate Homes initiative with expectation to build about 400 - two bedroom bungalows across the 31 Local government areas in the state for the poorest of the poor, beginning with one in each local government area.

The Umo Eno led - administration has sponsored different free medical outreaches across the 3 Senatorial Districts to ensure that medical services is made available and close to the people. Also, the ongoing construction of model primary healthcare centers is in furtherance of this gesture to ensure a healthier and happier society especially those in the grassroot.

Most recently, the Governor flagged-off the food security programme geared towards price stability and food sufficiency for the common good of Akwa Ibom State. The list is endless.

To some people, the welfarism of the Governor is akin to his vocation as a Pastor, while, to others, he is driven by his name 'Eno' which means gift or ( literally) giving. However, as it is in the character of Akwa Ibomites to nickname their leaders according to their priorities and performance, Governor Umo Eno is now being seen and aptly called MR. WELFARE.