In a significant move to clear lingering labor liabilities, the Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the disbursement of ₦330 million in outstanding entitlements to former workers of Akwa Palm Limited and staff of the St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery.
The Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Ikoedem Ekong, disclosed this development during a ministerial media briefing in Uyo.
According to the commissioner, ₦150 million of the total sum was dedicated to settling former workers of Akwa Palm Limited, a company that has remained shut down for over 17 years.
The remaining ₦180 million went toward clearing six months of salary arrears owed to employees of the St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery.
Addressing the broader welfare of the state’s workforce, Ekong revealed that the administration has successfully cleared more than ₦100 billion out of the ₦111 billion in inherited gratuity liabilities left behind by previous administrations.
He noted that the systematic clearing of these backlog payments underscores the government’s commitment to workers’ financial security.
Beyond financial settlements, the commissioner emphasized that the state has prioritized industrial harmony, successfully resolving several longstanding labor disputes through constructive dialogue and mediation rather than confrontation.
This proactive labor-management approach has helped maintain stability across public sector institutions in the state.
The announcement has drawn widespread commendation from labor unions and affected families, many of whom had waited over a decade and a half for their terminal benefits and unpaid wages.
State officials reaffirmed their ongoing dedication to worker welfare and institutional accountability moving forward.
