Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has lifted the 25-year employment embargo on the state’s civil service, as announced by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Wednesday.
Dr. Ekpang highlighted that the last significant recruitment drive in the civil service was in 1999. In the first phase of the new recruitment, 2,000 positions will be filled across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with the process set to begin immediately.
The previous administration’s attempt to recruit was found to have numerous flaws by the current government, Ekpang noted. He expressed relief that the governor has recognized the urgent need to bolster the civil service workforce, which is currently facing severe shortages.
When questioned about the possibility of implementing the N70,000 minimum wage, the commissioner responded that this matter would be addressed at an appropriate time.
In a related development, Governor Otu praised the citizens of Cross River for abstaining from the nationwide “Hunger Protest” that started on August 1. He particularly acknowledged the youth for their commitment to maintaining peace in the state.
