Cross River State to Regularise Hundreds of Casual Workers Soon — Head of Service

Cross River State to Regularise Hundreds of Casual Workers Soon — Head of Service

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

In a significant development for public sector employees in Cross River State, the government has announced plans to regularise the employment status of hundreds of casual workers engaged across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This announcement was made by the Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng, during a recent address to the College of Permanent Secretaries and the Guild of Directors, marking activities for the 2025 Civil Service Week.

Dr. Eteng revealed that casual workers currently make up more than 25% of the state’s civil service workforce, which totals around 20,000 employees. Many of these casual staff have served the state for several years, receiving monthly stipends ranging from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, often without formal job security or benefits.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Dr. Eteng explained that the retirement of numerous civil servants in the last two years had created a significant number of vacancies within the service. “Following my directive, my office received the list of casual staff from the MDAs, and I have presented their cases to His Excellency, the governor, who has been very forthcoming on issues affecting civil servants’ welfare,” he said. Governor Bassey Otu, he noted, is “very disposed to matters concerning the welfare of civil servants.”

The move to regularise casual workers is expected to provide long-awaited job security and improve working conditions for these employees, many of whom have contributed diligently to the functioning of the state government. It is also seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen and revitalise the state civil service.

In addition to this, Dr. Eteng confirmed that Cross River State has implemented the national minimum wage and is actively collaborating with organised labour unions to address any unresolved concerns related to workers’ remuneration and welfare.

The Head of Service further addressed administrative reforms aimed at enhancing discipline and fairness within the civil service hierarchy. He emphasised that junior officers would no longer be promoted ahead of their senior colleagues, a practice that has sometimes caused friction within the service. Dr. Eteng also underscored the importance of orderly retirements, noting that officers due for retirement must vacate their positions promptly. “Permanent Secretaries are only to serve for five years and must disengage in line with civil service regulations,” he stated clearly.

To boost morale and productivity among civil servants, Dr. Eteng announced that official vehicles would be assigned to eligible senior personnel. Moreover, 52 civil servants are set to receive awards during the week, with some benefiting from automatic promotions as a reward for exemplary service.

The Head of Service concluded his remarks by urging civil servants to reciprocate the government’s commitment to their welfare with increased dedication and productivity. “I urge all civil servants to be more productive in reciprocating the kind gestures of the state governor, who is very committed to their welfare,” he added.

This move is widely welcomed by workers and labour unions across Cross River State as a positive step toward enhancing job security and ensuring a more motivated civil service capable of delivering improved public services to citizens.

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