Newly employed local government workers in Cross River State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Calabar over the non-payment of their salaries, calling on Governor Bassey Otu to approve their enrolment on the state payroll.
The protesters, drawn from various local government areas across the state, marched through major streets of the state capital despite a heavy downpour before converging at the Governor's Office to press home their demands.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as "We Are Suffering," "Payroll Us," and "We Need Our Salaries," the workers appealed to the state government to urgently address what they described as a prolonged delay in placing them on the payroll.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the leader of the group, Uchi Julius, said many of the affected workers were employed in 2025 and resumed their duties immediately but have yet to receive any salary after nearly 11 months of service.
According to him, the prolonged delay has subjected many of the workers to severe financial hardship, making it difficult for them to meet basic needs, including feeding, transportation and family responsibilities.
He appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to intervene by approving their enrolment on the state payroll, stressing that the workers have continued to discharge their responsibilities despite not receiving any remuneration.
The protesters maintained that the demonstration was peaceful and intended to draw the attention of the government to their plight rather than disrupt public activities.
Some residents who witnessed the protest expressed sympathy for the workers, urging the government to resolve the issue without further delay. They noted that workers who have been duly employed and are actively carrying out their responsibilities deserve to be paid promptly.
The protesters reiterated that their primary demand is immediate placement on the state payroll and the payment of their outstanding salaries.
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