Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has has lifted the 25-year ban on civil service employment, approving the recruitment of 2,000 new workers.
This move is to address long-standing issues in the state civil service including shortage of manpower occasioned by non-replacement of retirees and those who died in service.
State Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, speaking with journalists shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, said the 2,000 slots will be allocated across the 18 local government areas of the state, to ensure equitable representation and access to employment opportunities throughout the state.
In addition to the employment initiative, Ekpang said the state has secured funding for a major infrastructure project which is the development of a railway link connecting the northern and southern regions of the state.
The project aims at facilitating the efficient transportation of agricultural products, thereby boosting the local economy and improving trade routes.
Also speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, the State Head of Service, Innocent Eteng, highlighted that the new workers will include 31 medical doctors and over 100 nurses, to improve the state’s health sector.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
