The Cross River State Government has nullified the controversial recruitment exercise conducted by the defunct Local Government Service Commission and approved a fresh recruitment of 4,000 personnel through a transparent process.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday signed and issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Enoh, following the submission of the report by the Panel of Enquiry into the exercise.

According to the statement, the panel found that the recruitment was “fundamentally flawed; lacking in legitimacy and fraught with the absence of executive approvals by the Governor, high-scale and widespread job racketeering, commercialisation of employment slots, institutional complicity, ineptitude and breach of public service ethics.”

The statement added, “Following the submission of the Report of the Panel of Enquiry into the recent Local Government Recruitment Exercise, and having carefully considered the issues raised, investigations conducted and recommendations made by the Panel, the Cross River State Government has taken the following decisions.

“The Panel concluded that the recruitment exercise carried out by the defunct Local Government Commission between 2024/2025 was fundamentally flawed; lacking in legitimacy and fraught with the absence of executive approvals by the Governor, high-scale and widespread job racketeering, commercialisation of employment slots, institutional complicity, ineptitude and breach of public service ethics.”

Enoh said the panel faulted the entire exercise, noting non-transparency, absence of accountability and non-compliance with extant laws and financial regulations, adding that the exercise had been invalidated and cancelled.

He further said the only recruitments recognised as legitimate were 821 personnel duly approved by the Governor, including 83 Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) staff.

“Those who fall within this category will be retained on the Government payroll. All other persons who entered the payroll through unauthorised or illegal recruitment processes are hereby phased out,” the statement added.

It added that all legitimate employees of the Local Government Service Commission who were lawfully recruited would continue to receive their salaries as and when due, adding that the state government had approved the recruitment of 4,000 personnel through a new exercise that would deploy digital platforms and modern procedures.

“To address staffing needs, the government has approved the recruitment of 4,000 personnel through a new exercise that will deploy digital platforms and modern procedures. Consequently, persons affected by this difficult but necessary decision who possess the requisite qualifications and requirements are encouraged to reapply through the new recruitment process,” Prof. Enoh stated.

He, however, said the government had also directed that persons eased out of the payroll be paid compensatory benefits, while steps would be taken to ensure “a comprehensive unbundling and sanitisation of the entire payroll.” He stressed that the state would commence investigations and prosecute persons found culpable.

“Government deeply sympathises with every citizen who may have fallen victim to what has been described as a criminal enterprise. However, Government cannot assume responsibility for appointments that were never authorised,” the statement stated.

The government appealed to members of the public, particularly those affected, to remain calm and take advantage of the new recruitment window.

Enoh reaffirmed the state’s commitment to “building a professional, transparent, efficient and people-centred public service that serves the interests of all citizens.”

Source: punchng.com

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Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were thrown into a six-hour traffic nightmare on Tuesday as ongoing repairs on the Kara Bridge triggered severe congestion along the busy corridor.

The gridlock, which was compounded by rainfall on Wednesday, disrupted traffic movement and temporarily affected some aspects of the repair work, with the congestion stretching more than 20 kilometres into Lagos.

The worsening situation has forced some motorists to consider alternative routes, while others have contemplated staying overnight in Lagos rather than risk spending several hours trapped in traffic on their way home.

A Federal Road Safety Corps official, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said the rainfall affected the next phase of the repair.

The official, however, said work that could safely continue during the downpour was ongoing.

He said, “Rainfall disrupted the ongoing repair work and forced the temporary suspension of the next phase of construction.

“It also affected the planned concrete and stonework, while workers continued with activities that could be carried out safely during the period. The expansion joint is also being drilled in preparation for its installation.”

For commuters who use the expressway daily, the situation has become increasingly frustrating, with some now considering longer alternative routes to escape the congestion.

One of them, Timilehin Adio, told PUNCH Metro that he was considering travelling through Ikorodu and Sagamu or using the Lekki-Epe route.

He said, “With the repairs practically putting the stretch of the expressway on lockdown, I now consider going through Sagamu and Ikorodu to Lagos. I can also take the Lekki-Epe route. The traffic is becoming unbearable.”

Another motorist, who identified himself simply as Saheed, said Tuesday’s gridlock left him stranded for several hours before he eventually got home around 2am.

Saheed, who lives in the Mowe area of Ogun State and works on the Island, said he was also considering an alternative route.

He said, “The gridlock was worse yesterday. I got home around 2 am. The traffic was at a standstill for a while. This was because of the high volume of vehicles coming in from Lagos. I may have to consider going through the Lekki-Epe route or Ikorodu axis when returning home.”

It was also gathered that some motorists whose offices are located on the Island had considered staying back at their workplaces or seeking temporary shelter in Lagos pending the completion of the repair.

The traffic situation was further worsened by the reduction in the number of available lanes around the bridge.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the first phase of concrete work on the bridge had been completed.

However, only two lanes were available to motorists approaching the bridge towards the OPIC Turning, while the four lanes inbound to Ogun State were reduced to two lanes a few metres before the bridge.

The reduction in available lanes slowed the movement of vehicles and contributed to the worsening congestion along the corridor.

Meanwhile, traffic officials and security personnel remained deployed at strategic points along the corridor to regulate vehicle movement and prevent the congestion from spreading further.

The rainfall, however, was also said to have affected the operations of some personnel managing the traffic.

PUNCH Metro reported on Tuesday that motorists were stranded for several hours as the repair works triggered a massive gridlock stretching from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State to the 7Up Junction in Lagos.

The Federal Government had earlier announced that the replacement of the expansion joints on the Kara-Berger Bridge section would last two weeks, from September 8 to September 22, 2026.

The intervention, being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant stakeholders, is aimed at addressing the deteriorating expansion joints, improving road safety, preserving the structural integrity of the bridge and ensuring smoother movement along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Michael Komolafe, clarified that the repair works progressed despite the downpour.

He said, “The concrete and stone works were completed before the rain started. I personally partook in covering it so that the rain would not affect the surface. That first phase we worked on was already concluded today; it is according to the plan for today. So we were already breaking the second one when it started raining.”

Komolafe added that plans were underway to ensure that the repair works finished before the scheduled completion.

Source: punchng.com

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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has approved the redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army.

This, according to the service, was part of efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness and align the Service’s leadership structure with the country’s evolving security challenges.

A statement on Wednesday by the Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, said that under the new postings, Maj Gen I. A. Ajose moves from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Operations, to the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, as Theatre Commander.

He replaces Maj Gen A.E. Abubakar, who has been redeployed from the theatre command to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.

Also redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre is Maj Gen A.M. Alechenu, from the Defence Headquarters Garrison, while Maj Gen R.T. Utsaha moves from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, to the Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.

Anele said the postings were designed to prioritise critical operational theatres and strategic appointments by deploying officers with the requisite leadership experience and expertise.

In other appointments, Maj Gen A.M. Umar moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Maj Gen U.M. Alkali moves from the college to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.

Maj Gen G.S. Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General, while Maj Gen J.E. Osifo moves from the corporation to the Military Pension Board as chairman.

Maj Gen I.E. Ekpenyong has also been redeployed to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics as Director, Engineering Services.

At the operational level, Brig Gen A.A. Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Operations.

Brig Gen M.S. Adamu moves from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brig Gen M.S. Sule moves from the Special Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.

Similarly, Brig Gen I. Sule moves from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brig Gen E. Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.

Brig Gen A.S. Bugaje, who previously commanded 2 Division Garrison, moves to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.

Anele said the COAS charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation and professionalism.

“The COAS has charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty and relentless focus on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security,” the statement said.

Source: punchng.com

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