Governor Otu Sets Up 5-Man Panel To Investigate Alleged Controversial LG Recruitment

By Kelvin Ololo

The Cross River State Government has constituted a five-man Panel of Inquiry to investigate the recent Local Government Service recruitment exercise following widespread complaints and public outcry over alleged irregularities in the process.

The decision was announced in a press release dated April 8, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh.

According to the statement, Governor Bassey Otu approved the panel to examine the conduct, legitimacy, and procedures surrounding the recruitment exercise and make appropriate recommendations.

The panel is chaired by Elder Gershom Davis and includes Mr. John Ndfon, Very Rev. Fr. Ignatius Itita, Mr. Enoh Oweh Bana, while Ntunkae Mary-Theresa Ikwen will serve as Secretary.

The government said the panel has been mandated to review the propriety and legitimacy of the recruitment process and receive oral and written submissions from members of the public regarding alleged discrepancies and irregularities.

Beyond the recruitment concerns, the committee will also scrutinize the current payroll structure across the eighteen local government councils in the state as part of efforts to establish the true personnel and financial position of the councils.

To ensure inclusivity and broad participation, the panel is expected to hold sittings across the three senatorial districts of the state, with the authority to summon individuals relevant to the investigation. A schedule for the sittings, the statement noted, will be released once the panel begins operations.

The state government described the move as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to fairness, justice, and good governance.

The recruitment exercise had recently sparked criticism from sections of the public amid allegations of lack of transparency, favoritism, and procedural breaches, prompting calls for official intervention.

With the inauguration of the inquiry panel, attention now shifts to whether the investigation will restore public confidence and lead to reforms in the state’s local government recruitment system.