The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has restated the dedication of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration to prioritize the welfare and working conditions of state workers, acknowledging the challenges faced during these times.
The deputy governor gave this assurance during a press briefing held in his office on Thursday.
Rt. Hon. Odey reiterated the ‘People First’ mantra of His Excellency Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, emphasizing that the governor prioritizes the well-being of the people by ensuring timely payment of salaries, aligning with the principle that those placed first should not face delays in their wages.
He clarified that the delay in salary payment for certain civil servants wasn’t a complete non-payment, as some asserted. Instead, it is attributed to an ongoing verification exercise aimed at addressing the continuous growth of the payroll, despite daily retirements.
During the press briefing, two key points were raised. Firstly, there was a query regarding the inclusion of pensioners in the ongoing verification exercise. Secondly, there was an inquiry about the expected duration of the exercise.
Regarding the first matter, Rt. Hon. Odey affirmed that in their investigations, it was discovered that some deceased pensioners still had relatives receiving their salaries. He also emphasized instances of name duplication among civil servants in multiple local government areas and similar issues.
As for the second concern, the Deputy Governor assured that the verification exercise would conclude by next week, specifically between February 19 and 23, 2024, ensuring that all workers receive their full payments.
“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to labour to be patient as this exercise is in the best interest of the workers and the State since it will ensure that the records are kept straight and the right thing is done'”
