Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has lifted the 25-year embargo on employment into the State civil service.
Dr Erasmus Ekpang, Commissioner for Information, made this known in an interview in Calabar on Wednesday.
While noting that the last time mass employment took place in the service was in 1999, Ekpang said 2,000 people are to be recruited in the first phase.
He said the recruitment exercise which will with immediate effect, will be carried out across all the Ministry Department and Agencies (MDAs).
“The immediate past administration actually tried to employ but when the present government came in, lots of flaws were discovered in that exercise.
“As we speak, the State civil service is almost depleted and we are indeed happy that the governor has considered it necessary to recruit at this point in time,” he stated.
When asked if the state will pay the N70,000 minimum wage, the commissioner said:”that will be considered at the appropriate time”.
In another development, Gov. Otu has commended the people of the state for not participating in the nationwide “Hunger Protest” which began on Aug. 1.
He specifically commended youths for deeming it fit to allow peace reign in the state.
Cross River to recruit 31 doctors, 153 nurses, others
Meanwhile, Gov Bassey Otu of Cross River, has approved the recruitment of 31 medical doctors, 153 nurses and 22 pharmacists to address the manpower deficit in the state health sector.
Dr Henry Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, disclosed this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Calabar.
Ayuk said that the decision to employ more health personnel was aimed at improving healthcare services delivery in the state.
“Just 20 doctors and 938 nurses in our secondary healthcare facilities serving a population of approximately 3.4 million people is a worrisome situation.
“As a government, we are poised to address this. This move is to bridge the gap in human capacity, and to equip the sector with the needed manpower.
“Workforce in the health sector will soon be strengthened, this will have a tremendous impact on healthcare service coverage in the state,” he said.
The commissioner also said that the governor’s approval had been transmitted to relevant implementing organs of government for immediate action.
“The State Planning Commission, Office of the Head of Service, and the Civil Service Commission have been communicated to immediately commence the employment process,” he said.