Photo: Governor Bassey Otu
Photo: Mandy Park
The Chairman of Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, has said that the state government was not owing any employee legitimately recruited into the Local Government Service.
Hon Ekpo stated this in a press statement he issued on Thursday to present the facts of the matter on the protest by “purported” Local Government workers claiming to be owed salaries for over eleven months.
The statement reads in full:
“The attention of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission has been drawn to the protest staged in Calabar by certain individuals claiming to be newly employed local government workers who alleged that they have not been paid salaries for the past 11 months.
“While we acknowledge the constitutional right of every citizen to peaceful assembly and expression, it has become necessary to place the facts before the people of Cross River State in order to prevent the deliberate distortion of issues and the spread of misinformation.
“First and foremost, the Cross River State Government is not indebted to any duly employed staff of the Local Government Service. Every legitimate employee of the Local Government Service Commission who was lawfully recruited into service and duly captured on the government payroll is receiving his or her salary as and when due.
“The individuals involved in the protest are unfortunately victims of an organised employment syndicate that exploited the desperation of job seekers by offering them fake letters of employment in exchange for huge sums of money. Investigations revealed that after the Commission received approval to recruit over seven hundred personnel into the Local Government Service, some unscrupulous individuals fraudulently reproduced employment documents and sold them to unsuspecting members of the public without the knowledge, authorisation or approval of the Cross River State Government.
“The panel set up by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fraudulent recruitment has since concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the government. The panel’s findings confirmed that there was no executive approval for the purported recruitments under which the protesters claim employment.
“The Commission deeply sympathises with every citizen who fell victim to this criminal enterprise. However, it must be clearly stated that government cannot assume responsibility for appointments that were never authorised, approved or issued through the lawful recruitment process. Doing so would amount to legitimising fraud and undermining the integrity of the public service.
“His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, remains committed to justice, transparency and the protection of the public interest. In line with that commitment, the government is carefully studying the recommendations contained in the panel’s report and has assured that appropriate decisions arising from those recommendations will be taken and implemented within the next two weeks.
“The decisions of government will be guided by law, fairness and the overriding interest of the people of Cross River State. This administration is determined to ensure that everyone found culpable in the employment scam is held accountable, while every lawful step necessary to protect innocent citizens and strengthen confidence in public institutions is pursued.
“The Cross River State Government therefore appeals to members of the public, particularly those affected, to remain calm and allow the government to conclude the process already initiated. The administration will not succumb to pressure or blackmail to take decisions that would compromise due process or the long-term interest of the state.
“We reaffirm that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration remains committed to building a transparent, accountable and people-centred public service where recruitment is based solely on merit, due process and lawful approval.”
