Cross River governor restores about 3,000 local government workers

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has approved the restoration of about 3,000 local government workers who had earlier been removed from the State payroll. The decision followed a meeting with organised labour, including the State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners. The talks covered workers’ welfare, recruitment, promotions, salary harmonisation and pensioners’ entitlements.

The labour leadership asked the governor to reconsider the disengagement of workers who had already spent about two years in service. It said the affected employees had built their livelihoods around their jobs and were sons and daughters of Cross River. Otu acknowledged the effect of abruptly withdrawing workers’ income.

He said the administration’s intervention in the public service was intended to correct anomalies, restore due process and ensure that employment and remuneration were based on qualifications and fairness. The governor also maintained that public-service opportunities should be distributed equitably. He questioned how a secondary-school leaver could already be receiving an appointment, while stressing that access to opportunity should not be limited to particular families.

Otu said the State faced difficult finances, including inherited obligations and recurring commitments. He said the government was making monthly payments of between N300 million and N600 million toward outstanding liabilities while trying to improve workers’ welfare and develop infrastructure. He asked labour unions to work with the government on rebuilding the State’s economy and moving away from what he called a hand-to-mouth model.

He also requested documentation on outstanding promotions, salary harmonisation and pension matters so officials could review the issues. The meeting ended with the approval to restore the affected local government workers. The source material does not specify when they will return to the payroll or whether further conditions will apply.