The Cross River State Government has rejected protests from individuals claiming to be unpaid local government staff, stating that these protesters are not legitimate employees. Chief Victor Felix Idem, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, explained that these individuals were illegally added to the payroll without following official recruitment procedures. While the government authorized the hiring of 500 new staff members, thousands of unauthorized names appeared in the system, prompting a comprehensive forensic audit.
As a result of these irregularities, the government dissolved the former leadership of the Local Government Service Commission and engaged specialists to verify all personnel. Commissioner Idem emphasized that genuine, lawfully documented employees continue to receive their pay on schedule, flatly denying claims that workers are owed 11 months of salary. He clarified that the administration will not bow to public pressure or protests to approve appointments made outside established channels.
The reforms are part of a broader effort under Governor Bassey Otu to rectify systemic corruption and financial waste inherited by his administration. Idem noted that the objective is to enforce discipline and transparency across the civil service, ensuring that taxpayer funds are used only for authorized staff. The government remains firm in its stance, asserting that it will not legitimize fraudulent recruitment practices regardless of public demonstrations.
