The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has entered a bond with its medical trainees to prevent them from absconding and migrating abroad, popularly called “japa.”
The government cited this as a strategy to stop brain drain of its trained medical professionals trained, saying it is now mandatory for them to serve the state before they leave the country for greener pastures.
Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, stated during the weekend in Uyo.
Essien said the state government would recruit 600 medical personnel as well as 100 occupational safety officers into the newly created Department of Occupational Safety in the Office of the Head of Service.
“Every person that government is sending out on training now is bonded to serve the government for a period that government would have recovered the investment on their training.
“The bonding is a very serious issue now, so none of them will escape. For the medical doctors, we go as far as the Medical Council that usually gives clearance for any professional who is travelling out of the country.
“So if we send your name that government has trained you, you are under bond to serve the government, so the Medical Council will not allow such a person travel out again,” he stated.
The HOS announced that the government has disbursed N60 billion out of the over N90 billion owed in gratuities, promotions, and other arrears to its workforce.
He explained that Governor Umo Eno has prioritized the welfare of workers’ since he assumed office 23 months ago, noting that the consistent release of funds toward clearing long-standing gratuity debts is a demonstration of his commitment to the well-being of retired and active civil a d public servants in the state.
He revealed that so far, the government has refunded the 7.5 percent contributory pension to 15 Local Education Authorities, adding that Governor Eno has been releasing N500 million monthly to settle outstanding contributions.
