*Applauds Gov. Umo Eno on Elderly Home Project, Pension Increase
*Seeks Creation of Federal, State Ministries of Elderly Affairs, Inclusion in Board Appointments
By Emmanuel Ufon
Monday, November 10, 2025 was a day of colour, joy, and camaraderie for retired public secondary school principals in Akwa Ibom State, as members of the Association of Retired Principals of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ARPSSON) gathered at Teachers’ House, Uyo, for their annual end-of-year get-together tagged “Relax and Refresh 2025.”
In her welcome address, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of ARPSSON, Pastor (Mrs.) Excel Iniunam, said the event was designed to bring members together to “relax, refresh, and brainstorm towards their collective welfare.”
She commended Governor Pastor Umo Eno for his initiative in establishing Elderly Homes and for increasing state pensions, describing the gesture as a testament to his compassion for senior citizens.
Pastor Iniunam, however, called for the establishment of Federal and State Ministries of Elderly Affairs, similar to the Ministry of Youth, to ensure that senior citizens remain meaningfully engaged in public service.
“We need a Federal and State Ministry of the Elderly, just as the youth have theirs. We are still strong and active enough to contribute to the growth of our state and the nation, rather than being confined to elderly homes,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Edet Emenyi, represented by the State Secretary, Dr. Samuel Umoinyang, highlighted the achievements of the current NUT administration. He commended the retired principals for their unity and pledged the union’s readiness to partner with ARPSSON and other bodies to promote members’ welfare.
Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Elder Edet Okon, who represented the State Chairman, outlined the union’s efforts toward improving pensioners’ welfare across the state.
The State Chairman of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Steve Akpabio, urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to appoint retired principals as chairmen and members of educational boards and agencies, noting that their professional experience would strengthen such institutions.
A retired Permanent Secretary, Mr. Chrisantus Asuka, encouraged members to seize opportunities to serve in various capacities in government, emphasizing that their wealth of experience remained valuable to state and national development. He also prayed for God’s continued blessings on the retirees who, he said, “laboured selflessly for the upbringing of other people’s children.”
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee and Welfare Officer of ARPSSON, Mr. Aniedi Essien, expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for his pension reforms, describing Akwa Ibom as “the first South-South state to make the slogan ‘Rest is Sweet After Labour’ a reality.”
He expressed optimism that as the economy improves, the Governor will continue to prioritize the welfare of teachers and retirees in the state.