The Chairman of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, Sir Maurice Effiwatt, has lauded Governor Bassey Edet Otu for his decisive actions in addressing two long-standing issues within the state’s public service. Sir Effiwatt praised the Governor for ending a 10-year gratuity drought and lifting a 25-year ban on employment into the state public service NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.
Speaking after the 7th Meeting of the Cross River State Executive Council, which was presided over by Governor Otu at the Council of Chiefs Chambers in Calabar, Sir Effiwatt described the Governor’s gestures as unprecedented. “Governor Otu has not only addressed the issues of unpaid gratuities that have plagued our retirees for a decade, but he has also taken a bold step in lifting the 25-year-old ban on employment into the state public service,” he said.
During the meeting, Governor Otu announced the immediate approval for the recruitment of an additional 2,000 staff to the state workforce. This move, according to the Governor, is part of a broader effort to strengthen the state’s public service and improve service delivery to the people of Cross River. The Governor also praised the residents of the state for their renewed confidence in the government, reflected in the voluntary payment of taxes, which resulted in a significant increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to ₦6.3 billion last month.
Sir Effiwatt assured the public that the upcoming recruitment process would be fair, equitable, transparent, and merit-based. He noted that the process is expected to commence next week with the advertisement of vacancies, with a significant portion of the process being conducted online to ensure broad accessibility and transparency.
“These steps taken by Governor Otu are not just historic but also reflective of a commitment to fairness and transparency in governance,” Sir Effiwatt added. He further promised that the Civil Service Commission would work diligently to ensure that the recruitment process aligns with these principles.
According to feelers, this development is expected to bring renewed hope to many job seekers in the state and to retirees who have waited years for their gratuities.
The 7th Meeting of the Cross River State Executive Council was also attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Honourable Commissioners, and other members of the State Executive Council.
