Tension Rises as Cross River Moves to Verify Civil Service Certificates
By Ekanem Asuquo
A wave of uncertainty is sweeping through the Cross River State civil service as the government prepares to commence a full scale forensic audit of academic and professional certificates beginning January 2026.
The planned audit, which insiders describe as one of the boldest governance reforms undertaken in years, is expected to expose fraudulent qualifications, correct unethical promotions and reinforce credibility within the public workforce.
According to senior officials familiar with the development, the decision follows troubling discoveries that a significant number of civil servants may have secured promotions or positions using forged documents. Several cases involving senior officers are said to have raised alarm within government circles.
One of the most shocking incidents involves a serving Permanent Secretary who reportedly claims to hold a doctorate degree from a university that has not produced its first batch of undergraduate graduates. A top official who spoke anonymously dismissed the claim as “an academic impossibility” and insisted that such cases have damaged confidence in the state service.
Beyond forged certificates, preliminary findings also point to widespread manipulation of grade levels. Investigators have uncovered instances where officers allegedly altered records or misrepresented entry qualifications to obtain unearned advancements. Officials say the audit will compel such persons to return to their appropriate ranks or leave the service entirely.
The verification exercise will involve a painstaking review of certificates, transcripts, professional licenses and job specific qualifications submitted at various stages of employment. Analysts will assess the authenticity and regulatory compliance of each document to ensure that only legitimately qualified individuals remain in the system.
“This administration is determined to clean up the civil service. Every document will be checked. Every promotion will be reviewed. The objective is to build a workforce that is competent, credible and transparent,” another senior official stated. He added that sectors requiring technical precision, such as health, engineering and environmental services, will undergo particularly strict scrutiny.
Governor Bassey Otu is said to have fully endorsed the initiative, describing it as necessary for strengthening productivity and restoring accountability across government institutions. He believes the audit will help rebuild public trust and eliminate long standing structural distortions in the state service.
Public commentators predict that the exercise could trigger even broader consequences, especially as citizens intensify calls for a similar audit of political appointees and elected officials. Many argue that integrity checks should not be limited to the civil service alone.
Already, the looming exercise has stirred unease among some civil servants and political figures who fear they may be implicated once the verification begins.
If successfully executed, the audit is expected to reposition the Cross River State civil service and ensure that merit, competence and authentic qualifications form the basis for career progression and effective service delivery.
