Cross River Cancels Local Government Recruitment Over Job Racketeering

The Cross River State Government has cancelled the 2024/2025 local government recruitment exercise over alleged job racketeering, sale of employment slots and other irregularities.

The decision was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Calabar by the Secretary to the State Government, Anthony Owan-Enoh.

The government said the cancellation followed the consideration of a report by a panel constituted to investigate the recruitment exercise conducted by the now-defunct Local Government Commission.

According to the statement, the panel found that the exercise was conducted without the executive approval of the governor and violated public service ethics, existing laws and financial regulations.

The panel also identified alleged institutional complicity, incompetence, lack of transparency and poor accountability in the recruitment process.

Consequently, the government said the entire exercise had been nullified, except for 83 CROSIEC personnel who were originally recruited by the Cross River Civil Service Commission before being redesignated to the Local Government Service Commission.

The government added that 821 personnel whose appointments had received the governor’s approval would remain on the state payroll.

“All other persons who entered the payroll through unauthorised or illegal recruitment processes are hereby phased out,” the statement said.

To provide another opportunity for qualified applicants, the state government said it had approved the recruitment of 4,000 workers through a fresh process.

It said the new exercise would deploy digital platforms and modern recruitment methods to determine staffing requirements and ensure appointments were based on established needs.

The government urged qualified persons affected by the cancellation to apply afresh when the new recruitment exercise commences.

It also directed the Attorney General and relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the cancelled recruitment and prosecute anyone found culpable.

The government said genuine employees of the Local Government Service Commission who were legally recruited with the required approval had continued to receive their salaries.

However, it said those removed from the payroll following the cancellation of unauthorised appointments would be provided with compensatory benefits.

The state government further announced plans for a comprehensive review of the payroll to “unbundle and sanitise” it.

While expressing sympathy to citizens who may have fallen victim to what it described as a “criminal enterprise,” the government said it could not assume responsibility for appointments made without proper authorisation or through unlawful procedures.

“Government cannot assume responsibility for appointments that were never authorised, approved or issued through a lawful recruitment process. To do otherwise would amount to legitimising fraud, compromising due process and undermining the integrity of the public service,” it said.

The government appealed to affected persons and other members of the public to remain calm and take advantage of the fresh recruitment opportunity.

It reaffirmed its commitment to building a professional, transparent, efficient and people-centred public service.