Job racketeering: Otu suspends C’River LG recruitment, orders probe

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has suspended the ongoing Local Government Service recruitment exercise amid allegations of racketeering, job slot monetisation, and widespread irregularities.

The suspension was announced Wednesday in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Owan Enoh, as public concern over the credibility of the exercise mounted.

“The suspension is part of immediate measures to restore public confidence and ensure that due process is followed in the recruitment of personnel into the local government system,” Enoh stated.

The governor has also approved the constitution of a five-man panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations and determine the extent of infractions in the process. The panel is mandated to review the propriety, legitimacy, and procedures of the exercise, and will invite members of the public to make oral or written representations on alleged discrepancies.

Beyond the recruitment irregularities, the committee has been tasked with scrutinising the actual payroll across the state’s 18 local government councils amid concerns over possible workforce figure inflation.

To ensure broad participation, the panel is expected to sit across the three senatorial districts of the state, with the option of inviting individuals deemed relevant to its inquiry.

Enoh said the suspension and probe reflect the government’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and good governance, adding that anyone found culpable in the alleged racketeering would face sanctions in line with the law.