The chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Cross River State, Monday Ogbodum, stated that 80 per cent of civil servants are nearing their retirement age and should leave service by next year, expressing worries that there has not been recruitment to replace the huge number.
He disclosed this at the May Day Workers’ rally at UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
Alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the TUC asserted that there was frivolity and scam when the state governor, Ben Ayade declared a recruitment exercise into the state civil service about two years ago.
Ogbodum reminded the state government that the state civil service has become nearly empty as a result of the continual retirement of the workforce.
He expressed worry that even more workers will retire before the end of 2023.
Labour leaders in the state also decried the poor implementation of workers’ promotions since 2015, non-payment of pensions and gratuity and the refusal to honour Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) reached between the unions and government over the years.
In his message at the event, Governor Ben Ayade said there has been a good workers-government relationship courtesy of his government’s commitment to workers’ welfare which is guaranteed in the regular payment of salaries in the state.
He said: “This is the last Workers’ Day we shall be celebrating together, extend the same support you have given to our administration to the incoming administration.
“In the past eight years, we have endeavoured to pay salaries at a good pace. I urge you to remain ever-productive. Put in your best and uphold the high standards of the civil service.”
