C’River LG workers protest 11-month unpaid salaries

Newly employed local government workers in Cross River State have staged a peaceful protest in Calabar over 11 months of unpaid salaries, urging Governor Bassey Otu to approve their enrolment on the state payroll.

The protesters, drawn from various local government areas, marched through major streets of the state capital to the Governor’s Office despite heavy rainfall, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We are suffering,” “Payroll us,” and “We need our salaries.”

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Mr Uchi Julius said many of those employed in 2025 had resumed duties but were yet to receive salaries despite working for almost a year.

Mr Julius said, “The prolonged delay has really subjected many workers to severe hardship. Some of us are now struggling to feed our families. Some of us have died during the verification process initiated by the government.”

He added that most of the affected workers now depend on loans from family members and friends to survive.

“One of the campaign promises was massive employment. Today, the 2,000 health workers said to have been employed are here, yet many of us have not been paid. We didn’t come here to beg for money; we came to ask for what we have worked for.

“We are hungry. We are dying. We have lost more than six colleagues. They can never return,” Mr Julius said.

Another protester, Miss Happiness Augustine, said she had worked for nearly one year without receiving any salary.

Miss Augustine said, “I was employed in 2025. Up till now, I have not been paid. It is one year in my office and I have not received any salary. We are begging Governor Bassey Otu to have mercy on us and pay us because we have been diligent in our duties.”

She added that the delay had left many workers in distress and appealed to the governor to intervene regardless of the administrative issues delaying the payroll process.

Government promises action

Responding to the protesters, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, acknowledged their concerns and assured them that the government was finalising the process required to resolve the matter.

According to Prof. Owan Enoh, following an earlier protest, the state government constituted a panel of inquiry, which has submitted its report, while a white paper recommending the next line of action has also been prepared.

“When you came here last time, I reported your concerns to the governor and a panel of inquiry was set up. That panel has submitted its report and we are now at the implementation stage,” he said.

Prof. Owan Enoh appealed to the workers to remain patient, assuring them that the government would act soon.

“I assure you that within two weeks, all of you will smile. If you have waited for almost a year, two weeks is not too long. You will see what the government is going to do in your favour,” the SSG said.