Bribes, job racketeering force Otu’s govt to cancel 2024, 2025 employment exercises

Cross River State Government Secretary Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh announced the cancellation of the 2024 and 2025 employment exercises due to extensive financial inducements, job racketeering, commercialisation of employment slots, institutional complicity, ineptitude, and breaches of public service ethics. The cancellation came after an inquiry revealed severe institutional lapses, including "high-scale and widespread job racketeering."

Only 821 personnel, including 83 from the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), recruited through authorized channels, would be recognized as legitimate and retained on the government payroll. All other individuals appointed through unauthorized or illegal recruitment channels are being phased out. The government expressed sympathy for citizens affected by the alleged criminal enterprise but emphasized that it cannot assume responsibility for unauthorized appointments, as it would legitimize fraud and undermine the integrity of the public service.

The government assured that legitimate employees would continue to receive their salaries, while those affected by the cancellation would receive compensatory benefits. The administration also announced plans for a fresh recruitment drive of 4,000 personnel to address the personnel shortage and assured strict compliance and monitoring during the recruitment exercise to prevent any further complicity.

The Attorney-General of Cross River State, along with relevant law enforcement agencies, has been directed to investigate the fraudulent exercise and prosecute all culpable individuals in accordance with the law.