In Cross River State, more than 1,700 workers who claimed to be civil servants under the state government took to the streets on Tuesday to protest alleged non-payment of five years’ worth of salaries.
According to our source in Calabar, the state capital, the protestors blocked the government secretariat’s entrance after converging there as early as 7:30 a.m.
The protesters held up placards with diverse messages, sang songs of unity, and pleaded with the government to pay their protesters’ salaries.
some of the inscriptions on placards read:
“Where is the meal on the table you promised?”
“Hunger is a global issue since humans are not animals.”
“Gov Ayade pay us our salaries. We were duly employed. Five years is not five days.”
According to Raphael Antigha, the spokesperson for the protesters, they have not received any salaries since they were employed between 2017 and 2018.
NOTABLE QUOTE
Mr. Raphael Antigha said:
“We have made many emissaries to the government to get them to pay us and each time, it is the same promises.”
“The government has made us undergo two screening and verification to resolve the issue and yet, the issue remains the same.”
“We were duly employed and have all been issued establishment number and even appointment letters and properly documented.”
He continued:
“We are just about 1,700 in number and the highest salary amongst us is N47, 000.”
“Each time the government complains of no money and yet, he gives out hundreds of political appointments each week, where is he getting the money to pay them?”
Mr. Ogbang Akwaji, Head of Service who responded on behalf of the government stated that no salaries were owned by the government.
In his words:
“Cross River government is one state that has placed great premium on the welfare of its workforce, in spite the challenging revenue inflows.”
“At the moment, July salaries have been paid to workers by the state government. There are no workers in the state who are being owed five years salaries.”
As at the time of filling in this report, we are yet to ascertain if these protesting workers are bonifide Cross River State civil servants
