Popular Cross River radio personality Iwara U. Iwara has publicly criticised two senior Cross River State government officials for failing to appear on his scheduled radio programme to address concerns over the alleged non-payment of salaries to some local government workers.
In a statement shared on Sunday, Iwara said the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Felix Idem, and the Chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, were scheduled to appear on his programme, "The Public View" on HIT 95.9 FM, Calabar, but both declined to participate at the last minute without offering any explanation.
According to the broadcaster, the officials were expected to respond to issues surrounding last Wednesday's peaceful protest to the Governor's Office in Calabar by individuals who identified themselves as local government workers and claimed they were owed 11 months of unpaid salaries.
Iwara argued that refusing to address such an important matter concerning the welfare of local government workers leaves room for speculation and assumptions that could negatively affect governance in Cross River State.
He further questioned what he described as the growing habit of government officials avoiding public accountability, asking how long public office holders would continue to refuse to explain their actions or inactions to citizens.
"Are we asking for too much?" the radio presenter asked while urging greater openness and accountability from public officials.
The Cross River State Government is yet to officially respond to Iwara's claims or explain why the two officials did not appear on the programme.
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