The Chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Darlington Bassey, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to instilling discipline, rewarding hard work, and penalizing indolence across the local government system in the state.
Mr. Bassey made this known during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Christopher Agbeh. The visit was part of a routine exercise aimed at verifying the nominal roll in the Council and ensuring the elimination of ghost workers, deceased, and absconded staff. The move, according to him, is intended to sanitize the system, reduce the wage bill, and produce an authentic nominal roll across the 18 Local Government Areas.
The Commission Chairman, who was accompanied by Commissioners, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, and the Auditor General for Local Governments, expressed satisfaction with the harmonious working relationship between the political leadership and the staff of Ogoja Local Government Council. He called for the continued sustenance of this cordiality to enhance productivity.
Mr. Bassey also emphasized that moving forward, local government staff will move with their pay points when transferred, to ensure smoother transitions and maintain efficiency.
In his response, the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Christopher Agbeh, described governance as a vehicle for service delivery built on strong partnerships. He commended the existing cooperation between the political class and civil servants in the Council, noting it as a key strength of his administration.
Chief Agbeh also appealed to the Commission to support the development of a functional and verifiable nominal roll. Additionally, he requested the Commission’s prompt approval for the employment of junior staff to strengthen service delivery at the grassroots level.
