Cross River State cancels local government recruitment over irregularities

The Cross River State Government has cancelled its 2024/2025 local government recruitment exercise following investigations that uncovered serious irregularities. Officials described the previous process as fundamentally flawed, citing allegations of job racketeering, the commercialization of employment slots, a lack of transparency, and breaches of public-service procedures.

As a result of the cancellation, only 821 personnel with properly authorized appointments will be retained on the local government payroll. All other appointments resulting from unauthorized processes will be phased out. The state has directed authorities to investigate the circumstances of the previous recruitment and prosecute those found culpable.

To replace the disputed exercise, the government has approved the recruitment of 4,000 new workers through a fresh process. This new initiative is expected to utilize digital platforms and modern recruitment procedures to ensure transparency. The Local Government Service Commission indicated that a new recruitment portal is expected to open within two to three weeks, and affected individuals will be permitted to apply again once the portal is active.