Nigeria’s Cross River State cancels previous local government recruitment and approves 4,000 positions
The authorities of Nigeria’s Cross River State have cancelled the 2024–2025 recruitment campaign for local government bodies and approved a new recruitment process for 4,000 positions. The decision was made after reviewing the report of a commission investigating the employment procedure conducted by the dissolved Local Government Service Commission.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, a statement by State Government Secretary Anthony Owan-Enoh described the previous recruitment as fundamentally flawed. According to the government, the procedure may have involved the sale of positions and the commercialization of employment.
Investigation findings
According to the government, the commission of inquiry found that the recruitment lacked the governor’s approval and violated public service ethical standards, applicable laws, and financial regulations. The report also cited possible institutional involvement, incompetence, a lack of transparency, and accountability during the procedure.
The government annulled the entire recruitment process, except for 83 CROSIEC employees. They were initially hired by the Cross River State Civil Service Commission and were later transferred to the Local Government Service Commission. A total of 821 employees whose hiring was, according to the authorities, duly approved by the governor will remain on the government payroll.
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New recruitment and payroll review
People who were placed on the payroll through unauthorized or illegal procedures will be removed from it. At the same time, the government said that people removed following the cancellation of the unauthorized recruitment would receive compensation payments.
The new recruitment for 4,000 positions is planned to be conducted using digital platforms and modern procedures. According to the government, this should help objectively identify staffing needs and select candidates in line with established requirements. People affected by the cancellation of the recruitment who have the necessary qualifications were invited to apply again.
The state attorney general and relevant law enforcement agencies were instructed to investigate the circumstances of the previous recruitment and hold those responsible accountable in accordance with the law. The authorities also announced plans to comprehensively audit and streamline the entire payroll system.
