In the early hours of Thursday, civil servants in Calabar, Cross River State, gathered at the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Anthony Owan Eno, to protest the delay in receiving their January salaries, which remained unpaid as of February 15th.
They expressed that the economic conditions are intolerable and stressed the urgency for the government to promptly disburse salaries.
The civil servants mentioned that they were instructed to visit the SSG’s office to register their names, a directive they deemed unacceptable.
They urge Governor Bassey Otu to take swift action, as people are suffering from hunger.
In response to the protest, the State Government clarified that more than 80% of salaries have already been disbursed. It explained that the delay in some payments is due to an ongoing verification process conducted by the state government.
Addressing the issue in Calabar, Deputy Governor of Cross River, Peter Odey, elucidated that certain employees have been receiving multiple salaries. He stated that the state government has initiated an audit and verification process for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as local government employees, to address the significant wage bill, despite numerous retirements from service.
He emphasized the commitment of the Bassey Otu-led administration to prioritize its People First Agenda. This agenda can only be achieved through collective sacrifices and support for establishing a transparent and accountable system across all sectors of the state.
The State Government acknowledges the challenging circumstances and assures that all individuals experiencing genuine delays in salary payments will be remunerated as soon as possible.