The Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the state government, demanding the payment of January salaries to civil servants within four weeks or face the threat of industrial action.
The alert follows complaints from workers across various ministries and agencies who allege selective payment, with some staff, including local government employees and primary school teachers, still awaiting their salaries. Many expressed frustration over the state’s lavish Valentine’s Day party promotions while they remain unpaid, noting that the last salary disbursement they received was on December 12, 2025.
Gregory Olayi, Chairman of NLC in Cross River, confirmed receipt of the complaints and said the union is engaging the government to resolve the issue. He dismissed claims that delays were solely due to non-submission of updated nominal rolls, insisting that affected workers deserve prompt payment.
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A director in one of the state ministries, Thomas Adie, told journalists in Calabar that over 70 percent of workers, including local government staff, had not received their January salaries. He alleged that political appointees and selected employees had been paid while staff in critical ministries such as Health, Agriculture, and Education were left unpaid. Adie also questioned why salary verification procedures were introduced after partial payments had already been made.
Responding to the complaints, Cross River State Accountant-General Dr. Glory Effiong acknowledged that some workers remain unpaid but attributed the delays to permanent secretaries who have yet to submit verified nominal rolls. She noted that over 14,000 out of approximately 15,000 workers had received their salaries and emphasised that salary processing depends on submission of accurate rolls to prevent absenteeism.
The NLC’s ultimatum underscores growing tension between civil servants and the Cross River State government, as the union presses for full compliance to avert a potential strike that could disrupt public services.
