Cross River LG Workers Protest 11 Months of Unpaid Salaries

Local government workers in Cross River State staged a peaceful protest in Calabar on Wednesday over 11 months of unpaid salaries, urging Governor Bassey Otu to approve their enrolment on the state payroll. The protesters, who said they were employed through the Cross River State Unified Local Government Service Commission, claimed they had been reporting for duty since April 2025 without receiving any salary.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the workers marched to the Governor's Office, appealing for immediate government intervention. They insisted that despite their appointments, they had yet to be captured on the payroll, leaving many unable to meet basic living expenses after nearly a year without pay.

The protesters called on the state government to urgently regularise their employment status and commence the payment of their outstanding salaries. They warned that the prolonged delay had subjected them and their families to severe financial hardship, despite faithfully carrying out their official responsibilities.

Responding to the demonstration, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh, appealed for calm and assured the workers that Governor Otu was aware of their concerns. He said the administration was taking steps to resolve the payroll issues and expressed confidence that the affected workers would soon have reasons to smile.

The protest highlights growing concerns over salary delays in parts of the public sector, with the workers urging the government to act swiftly to prevent further hardship and restore confidence in the state's employment system.