Akwa Ibom declares health emergency, approves recruitment of 2,000 workers
The Akwa Ibom State government has declared a state of emergency in the health sector, pledging sweeping reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the state.
The decision was taken at Friday’s meeting of the State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Umo Eno in Uyo.
As part of the measures, the government will recruit 2,000 health workers immediately, with the usual voter identification requirement waived to encourage wider participation. Retired medical personnel who are willing to return will also be engaged on contract.
Governor Eno said the reforms would focus on upgrading health facilities, improving training institutions, and expanding opportunities for health professionals.
“The state of emergency is designed to accelerate reforms and deliver efficient healthcare services for our people,” he told Council members.
An inter-ministerial steering committee chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel John, has been set up to oversee the implementation of the plan.
The council also approved a supplementary budget of 695 billion naira, raising the total 2025 budget to 1.65 trillion naira. The extra funds will cover the new minimum wage, emergency flood control, infrastructure projects, the purchase of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses, and the acquisition of new aircraft, among other priorities.
The council further fixed 15 October 2025 for the launch of two key reforms ; the Treasury Single Account, aimed at improving fiscal transparency, and the Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System, which will digitise land management and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.
The meeting ended at 6pm.
