C’River Opens Fresh Window For 4,000 LG Jobs in Two Weeks - Chairman
By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
Calabar, Sept. 11, 2026 (NAN) The Cross River State Local Government Service Commission says it will open a fresh recruitment portal within the next two weeks for about 4,000 positions in the state’s local government service.
The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Eyo Ekpo, made the disclosure on Friday in Calabar while explaining the government’s decision to cancel the previous local government recruitment exercise.
Ekpo said the fresh recruitment would provide an opportunity for qualified Cross River residents, including those affected by the cancellation, to reapply through a transparent process.
He said the 4,000 vacancies represented a significant increase from the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, for which the government initially approved 500 positions.
According to him, additional vacancies were later approved to fill gaps created by retirements, bringing the figure to more than 700 then.
He said the 81staff recruited by the State Civil Service Commission and subsequently redesignated to the Local Government Service brought the total approved figure to 821.
Ekpo, however, alleged that the previous commission exceeded the approved figure by embarking on a recruitment exercise involving more than 7,000 persons.
“The former commission went on a fraudulent process of its own to recruit over 7,000,” he said.
He alleged that the exercise was characterised by irregularities, including corruption and the alleged sale of employment opportunities.
Ekpo said the panel of inquiry constituted by the government investigated the exercise and documented what he described as irregularities in its report.
He said the state government could not ignore the panel’s findings, hence the decision to cancel the exercise and provide a fresh opportunity for qualified applicants.
“No responsible government will sweep such things under the carpet.
“That is why the government is now giving a window of opportunity to all those affected by this necessary decision to reapply and get their jobs back properly,” he said.
Ekpo said the new recruitment portal was expected to open within the next two to three weeks.
He added that the issue of possible compensation for persons affected by the cancellation was still being considered by the government.
According to him, those whose appointments were affected by the cancellation could apply again when the new portal opened.
He stressed that all qualified Cross River residents would be eligible to apply, subject to meeting the stipulated requirements.
“Nothing precludes those who have been laid off by this unfortunate but very necessary decision from reapplying.
“All Cross Riverians are entitled to reapply, except if you are not qualified,” he said.
*Source: NAN*
