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Ukorebi Esien | September 15, 2026
CALABAR — The Cross River State Local Government Service Commission has faulted a circular issued by the state Head of Service, Orok Bassey Okon, concerning the proposed recruitment of 4,000 personnel into the Local Government Service.
The commission, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, on Tuesday, maintained that the recruitment falls within its statutory responsibility and would be conducted through a transparent, digital and merit-based process.
The statement was issued in reaction to Circular No. 17/2026, referenced GO/HOS/4/Vol. III/364 and dated September 11, 2026, by the Head of Service.
The commission explained that its clarification was aimed at setting the record straight and ensuring that the recruitment process remained consistent with the official position of the state government.
It maintained that the responsibility for recruiting into the Unified Local Government Service rests exclusively with the Local Government Service Commission, subject to the governor's approval and compliance with the relevant enabling laws.
The commission said the Head of Service had no role in recruiting personnel into the Local Government Service or in directing, controlling or interfering with the commission's recruitment procedures.
It further argued that the Head of Service lacked the constitutional, statutory and administrative authority to undertake such responsibilities.
The commission's position came after the state government approved the recruitment of 4,000 personnel to fill manpower shortages across the state's 18 local government areas.
It said the new exercise would be restricted to local government employment and would replace the 2024/2025 recruitment conducted by the former Local Government Service Commission.
According to the commission, the earlier exercise was cancelled after being found to have been fundamentally defective, although 821 appointments approved by Governor Bassey Otu were exempted from the cancellation.
The exempted group, it said, included 83 CROSIEC personnel who had previously been recruited through the Civil Service Commission before being redesignated.
The commission alleged that the previous recruitment lacked executive approval and was marred by job racketeering, the commercialisation of employment slots, institutional complicity and breaches of existing laws and financial regulations.
It said the fresh exercise would be conducted in line with its statutory mandate, with a digital recruitment portal expected to be launched in due course.
Those affected by the cancellation of the previous exercise and who meet the required qualifications, the commission said, would be allowed and encouraged to submit fresh applications.
It also disclosed that arrangements were being concluded for possible compensation for genuine victims of the cancelled recruitment exercise.
The commission called on stakeholders to rely on the official position of the state government and disregard any circular or directive that, in its assessment, attempted to take over its legally assigned functions.
It reaffirmed its commitment to due process, transparency and merit in the recruitment exercise, saying this would help restore public confidence in the administration of the state's local governments.
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