Newly recruited local government workers in Cross River State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Calabar over 11 months of unpaid salaries, urging Governor Bassey Otu to approve their inclusion on the state payroll.
The workers, drawn from various local government areas, marched through major streets of the state capital despite heavy rainfall, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We are suffering,” “Payroll us,” and “We need our salaries.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Uchi Julius said many of the workers, employed in 2025, had resumed duty but had not received salaries despite working for nearly a year.
He said the prolonged delay had subjected workers to severe hardship, forcing many to rely on loans from relatives and friends to survive.
Julius also alleged that more than six colleagues had died during the period, including some while participating in the government’s verification process.
“We are not begging for money.
We are only asking to be paid for the work we have done. We are hungry, we are suffering, and some of our colleagues are no longer alive,” he said.
Another protester, Happiness Augustine, said she had worked for almost one year without receiving any salary, despite remaining committed to her duties.
She appealed to the governor to intervene and ensure the affected workers were paid.
Augustine further alleged that one of the workers died in a road accident while travelling for a screening exercise initiated by the state government following an earlier protest.
Responding to the demonstrators, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Enoh, said the government had taken steps to address the issue.
He explained that a panel of inquiry set up after an earlier protest had completed its assignment and submitted its report, while a white paper outlining the next course of action had been prepared.
Enoh assured the workers that the government was in the implementation stage and appealed for patience.
“I assure you that within two weeks, all of you will smile.
If you have waited for almost a year, two more weeks is not too long. Before you return here again, you will see what the government is going to do in your favour,” he said.
