By Patrick Obia
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The Cross River State Civil Service headquarters in Calabar is currently under lock and key as 1800 civil servants employed four years ago are protesting over unpaid salaries.
The protesters in their numbers barricaded the entrances of the secretariat and chanted solidarity songs with leaves saying they are dying in their numbers due to hunger and starvation.
Mr. David Iyaya, the Coordinator of the protest said the State Government has refused to honor the agreement reached, therefore, leaving them with no option but to protest.
On his part, the State Head of Service, Mr. Timothy Akwaji told the protesters not to take laws into their hands by locking the gates.
The Head of Service said their employment was illegal since it was not signed by Governor Ben Ayade.
The DPO of State Housing Police Station, E. Jack warned the protesters to open the gate or face the “use of minimal force” on them saying they are a “group of people” who want to cause unrest in the State, an assertion the civil servants termed repugnant.
However, after minutes of back and forth between the Head of Service, the Police, and the protesters, the Head of Service whispered that he has received a call from the State Governor who pleads that they should open the gates and bring their letters of employment on Friday.
