C/River: Civil servants demand January salaries

By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

Some civil servants in Cross River State have protested the non payment of their January salaries, alleging selective disbursement across ministries, departments and agencies, including primary school teachers.

The complaint was made on Thursday in Calabar by Mr Thomas Adie, a director in one of the state ministries.

He alleged that more than 70 percent of workers, including local government staff, were yet to receive their January salaries.

Adie claimed that while political appointees and some selected staff had been paid, majority of workers in key ministries such as Health, Agriculture and Education remained unpaid.

According to him, the delay has compounded the hardship faced by workers, many of whom are struggling to meet basic needs such as school fees and household expenses.

He also faulted a directive requiring ministries to submit updated nominal rolls, questioning why salary verification was introduced after partial payments had already been made.

“This development is unprecedented. I believe it is due to inefficiency in salary administration at the Office of the Accountant General,” he said.

Another civil servant, Mrs Grace Offiong, described the situation as frustrating, noting that as of February 12 workers had yet to receive their January salaries.

“It is disheartening to see billboards across Calabar advertising a Valentine event package by government while workers have not been paid since December 12, 2025,” she said.

She added that while some states paid a thirteenth month salary to workers in December 2025, Cross River workers did not receive such benefits and are now being owed.

Responding to the allegations, the Accountant General of the state, Dr Glory Effiong, confirmed that some workers were yet to be paid. She attributed the delay to the failure of some permanent secretaries to submit updated nominal rolls.

Effiong stated that over 14,000 out of about 15,000 workers had been paid and maintained that salaries were processed upon receipt of verified nominal rolls.

She explained that the verification measure was introduced to address absenteeism and ensure that only workers who report to duty receive salaries.

“Some ministries, departments and agencies are still submitting nominal rolls as we speak t, so it is not my fault,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Cross River, Mr Gregory Olayi, confirmed that the union had received complaints from affected workers.

Olayi said labour was engaging the state government on the matter and dismissed claims that the delay was solely due to the non submission of nominal rolls.

He noted that primary school teachers and local government workers were among those affected, with some council officials yet to receive outstanding salaries.

The NLC chairman disclosed that the state government had been given a four week ultimatum to resolve the issue, warning that the union would take further action if necessary.

“We disagree with the Accountant General because there are ministries that submitted their nominal rolls. Some staff on the same roll have been paid while others have not,” he said.

A visit to the gate of the Office of the Accountant General revealed a notice restricting entry to staff only, with a directive advising workers seeking salary information to contact their permanent secretaries.

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