- Orders probe of alleged racketeering
Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has ordered the immediate suspension of the recent recruitment exercise by the Local Government Service Commission.
The suspension followed reports of alleged corruption, gross abuse of office, and widespread employment racketeering uncovered in the recruitment process.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Linus Obogo, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday in Calabar.
Otu also accepted the resignation of the commission’s chairman, Mr. Darlington Eyo, over his alleged involvement in the irregularities.
The governor directed that a new, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process be undertaken to ensure fairness and restore credibility to the local government system.
He said: “I have set up a special review committee to investigate the recruitment scandal and identify all individuals responsible for the malpractice.
“The committee is expected to recommend appropriate disciplinary and corrective actions in line with the administration’s zero tolerance for corruption.”
Otu reaffirmed that no act of impunity or abuse of office would be tolerated under his leadership.
He stressed that transparency, accountability, and integrity remained the guiding principles of his “People-First” governance philosophy