By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has denied claims that it owes local government workers 11 months’ salary arrears, describing the allegation as misleading.
The government said many of those who participated in Wednesday’s peaceful protest in Calabar were victims of employment racketeers who allegedly issued fake appointment letters and collected money from unsuspecting applicants, even though recruitment into the local government service was free.
The Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Public Affairs, Nsa Gill, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday while reacting to the protest by the affected workers.
Gill maintained that the state government had no outstanding salary obligations to legitimately employed local government workers, contrary to claims made during the demonstration.
He, however, noted that despite the circumstances surrounding the protesters’ grievances, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, met with the demonstrators on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu.
According to him, the SSG informed the protesters that the panel of inquiry set up to investigate issues surrounding the disputed appointments had concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the government.
Gill said the government assured the affected persons that implementation of the panel’s recommendations would commence within two weeks.
He reiterated the Otu administration’s commitment to transparency, due process and justice, assuring that genuine concerns arising from the panel’s findings would be addressed in line with the law.
The clarification comes after hundreds of protesters marched in Calabar on Wednesday, alleging they had gone 11 months without salaries and demanding government intervention.
The state government insists the issue is not unpaid salaries but the status of appointments allegedly obtained through fraudulent recruitment syndicates.
