Some civil servants in Cross River State have decried the non-payment of their January salaries, alleging selective disbursement across ministries, departments and agencies.
The workers, who spoke in separate interviews with journalists in Calabar on Thursday, said the delay has compounded economic hardship and left many unable to meet basic obligations.
A director in one of ministries said that more than 70 per cent of workers, including local government employees, were yet to receive their January pay as of February 12.
He claimed that while some political appointees and selected staff had been paid, many workers in key ministries such as Health, Agriculture and Education remained unpaid.
According to him, the delay had made it difficult for affected workers to pay school fees and cater for their families.
Adie also questioned the directive mandating ministries to submit updated nominal rolls after partial salary payments had already been made.
“This development is unprecedented, and 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 workers had not received salaries since December 12, 2025.
She criticised what she described as misplaced priorities, alleging that while workers were being owed, billboards advertising a Valentine event by the governor were visible across Calabar.
She added that unlike some states that paid a 13th-month salary in December 2025, Cross River workers did not receive such benefits and were now owed January wages.
Responding, the Cross River State Accountant-General, Dr Glory Effiong, confirmed that some workers were yet to be paid but attributed the delay to the failure of certain permanent secretaries to submit updated nominal rolls.
Effiong stated that over 14,000 of the state’s approximately 15,000 workers had received their salaries, insisting that payments were processed upon receipt of verified nominal rolls.
She said the verification exercise was aimed at addressing absenteeism and ensuring that only workers who report for duty receive salaries.
“Some Ministries, Departments and Agencies are still submitting nominal rolls as at the time of filing this report, so it is not my fault,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Cross River State, Mr. Gregory Olayi, confirmed receiving complaints from affected workers.
Olayi said organised labour was engaging the government on the matter, disputing claims that the delay was solely due to non-submission of nominal rolls.
He noted that primary school teachers and local government workers were among those affected, with some council employees 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 labor would take further action if the concerns were not addressed.
“We disagree with the Accountant-General because we have ministries that have submitted their nominal rolls, and some of their staff have been paid, while others on the same nominal roll are yet to be paid,” he said.
- Media Report