Hundreds of local government workers in Cross River State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Calabar, lamenting that prolonged non-payment of salaries has pushed many into severe hardship, with the protesters claiming that at least six of their colleagues had died while waiting to be enrolled on the state payroll.
The workers, most of whom said they were employed in 2025 and had worked for about 11 months without receiving salaries, marched through major streets of the state capital despite a heavy downpour before converging on the Governor’s Office to demand immediate payment of their outstanding wages.
Carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “We are suffering,” “Payroll us,” and “We need our salaries,” the protesters appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to urgently intervene, saying the prolonged salary delay had left many unable to feed their families, pay rent or settle medical bills.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, the protest leader, Uchi Julius, alleged that hunger and hardship resulting from the unpaid salaries had claimed the lives of no fewer than six workers, while several others were receiving treatment in hospitals without the means to pay their bills.
“We are hungry. We are dying. We have lost more than six colleagues. They can never return,” Julius said.
He added that although one of the administration’s campaign promises was massive employment, many of those recruited, including about 2,000 health workers, had continued to work without pay.
“We didn’t come here to beg for money; we came to ask for what we have worked for,” he said.
Julius explained that many of those employed in 2025 had resumed work but were yet to receive salaries nearly one year later, adding that the prolonged delay had subjected workers to untold hardship, while some reportedly died during the verification process initiated by the government.
Another protester, Happiness Augustine, said she had remained unpaid since her employment in 2025 despite carrying out her official responsibilities diligently.
“I was employed in 2025. Up till now, I have not been paid. It is one year in my office and I have not received any salary. We are begging Governor Bassey Otu to have mercy on us and pay us because we have been diligent in our duties,” she said.
According to Augustine, the salary delay has plunged many workers into distress, forcing them to continue reporting for duty without any remuneration.
“We are on our knees begging him to pay us. We have families to take care of and we have continued working without salaries,” she added.
She further alleged that one of their colleagues died in a road accident while travelling for the government screening exercise that followed an earlier protest.
“We came for a protest before and a panel was set up. During the screening process, one of our colleagues had an accident on his way and died. We are still waiting for the governor to say something. We are pleading with him to help us,” Augustine said.
Responding to the protesters, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, acknowledged their grievances and assured them that the state government was concluding the process required to resolve the issue.
Enoh disclosed that following an earlier protest, the government constituted a panel of inquiry, which had completed its assignment and submitted its report, while a white paper recommending the next course of action had also been prepared.
“When you came here last time, I reported your concerns to the governor and a panel of inquiry was set up. That panel has submitted its report and we are now at the implementation stage,” he said.
The SSG appealed to the workers to remain patient, assuring them that the government would act soon.
“I assure you that within two weeks, all of you will smile. If you have waited for almost a year, two weeks is not too long. Before you come back here again, you will see what the government is going to do in your favour,” Enoh said.
The protest comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of public workers in the state, while the Cross River State Government has separately denied owing the workers 11 months’ salaries and said it is awaiting the implementation of the panel’s report.