Frustrated by nine months of unpaid salaries, staff of the Cross River State Unified Local Government Service Commission on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office in Calabar, appealing to Bassey Otu for urgent intervention.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the workers described the prolonged delay as “a source of severe hardship,” saying many of them were struggling to pay school fees and provide basic necessities for their families.
In a letter submitted to the governor during the protest, the employees detailed their plight.
“For over nine months now, many of us who were employed through the Local Government Service Commission have been reporting to our duty posts faithfully without being placed on the payroll. Despite our commitment to serve the state diligently, we have not received salaries to sustain ourselves and our families.
“Among us are parents whose children have been unable to return to school. Feeding our families and fulfilling basic responsibilities have become extremely difficult. Some of our colleagues left small private jobs they were managing to take up this opportunity to serve our beloved state. Others were posted to new environments and had to relocate from far and near just to resume duty.
“Particularly in the health sector, some of our members work tirelessly—day and night—serving communities with dedication, even while struggling to afford transportation to work. Sadly, many now survive by borrowing or depending on the kindness of others around their workplaces.
“Our coming together today is not an act of confrontation but a humble cry for help from loyal citizens who believe in your leadership. We respectfully appeal to you as a father and leader to kindly intervene so that we can be placed on the payroll and begin to receive our salaries.
“We remain committed to serving Cross River State with loyalty, diligence, and gratitude.”
Responding to the protesters, the Secretary to the State Government, Anthony Enoh, assured them that the government was already addressing the issue.
He acknowledged the workers’ right to protest and disclosed that the state government had held several meetings to resolve the matter.
“What you are doing is your right, and nobody will say they are against you.
“I can assure you that we have had about three meetings already on the issue of local government employment, recruitment and payroll.
“By this Thursday, we are going to have the final meeting with His Excellency, who has been away in Abuja for some important engagements,” he told the protesters.
Enoh explained that the delay was partly due to the need to verify genuine employees and resolve administrative issues within the commission.
“We are aware there were some hitches along the way before the employment process was concluded, which led to some shake-up in the Local Government Service Commission. The governor wants to ensure that only those genuinely employed are placed on the payroll,” he said.
He assured the workers that the matter would be resolved soon and encouraged them to remain patient.
“You were employed by the government and everything will be followed duly and procedurally. Those who are genuinely employed will be placed on the payroll,” he added.
The protesters, however, maintained that their action was not intended to confront the government but to respectfully seek urgent intervention to alleviate the hardship they have endured for months.
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